More than 250 people have been killed in an Algerian military transport plane crash near the capital, Algiers.

The plane went down on Wednesday morning shortly after taking off from the Boufarik military base in Algeria, local media reported.

At least 14 ambulances were present at the crash site to transfer any survivors to hospital.

Algerian television showed footage of the burning wreckage.

The airplane, an Ilyushin Il-78, was reportedly carrying personnel to the western Algerian city of Bechar.