At least 40 people have died in a plane crash near the international airport in Juba, South Sudan’s capital.

Reports say around 40 bodies were counted at the plane wreck site.

The spokesman to the President, Ateny Wek Ateny, told Reuters that there were at least two survivors, a crew member and a child on board.

It is however unclear how many of those were on the plane and how many were on the ground.

Local media reports say the aircraft was a cargo plane heading to Paloch in Upper Nile State and crashed just 800 metres from the runway.

The plane came down on the east bank of the nearby River Nile.