Several people died, including a child, when a helicopter crashed into a Houston communications tower

() – Several people were killed, including a child, when a helicopter crashed into a communications tower behind homes in Houston’s Second Ward Sunday night, causing a fiery explosion and toppling the structure, Mayor John Whitmire said.

The crash occurred near Engelke Street and North Ennis Street shortly before 8 p.m. ET, causing a large explosion that could be heard at a fire station less than half a mile from the scene, Whitmire said during a late-night news conference.

Authorities did not clarify how many people died, but there were four people aboard the private Robinson R44 helicopter, according to Houston Police Chief Noe Díaz.

The plane appears to have departed from Ellington Airport, which is about 17 miles south of the crash site, but its destination is unclear, the mayor said.

A witness video shows fire personnel urging bystanders to clear the area where there was a fire and warning them about a propane tank in the area.

“What happened tonight is a tragic event. “It is a tragic loss of life,” Díaz said.

The fire was no longer active as of 9:30 p.m. ET, a fire department spokesperson said.

“The residents are safe and secure, but we have a terrible accident scene,” Whitmire said.

The photos shared by the department Firefighters show the destroyed tower lying on a dirt clearing behind a line of houses.

Some homes near the crash site were without power, Whitmire said.

The mayor said that the city is “lucky” that the explosion was not more serious because there is a butane tank in the area.

Manuel Arciniega was nearby when the accident occurred, according to KPRC affiliate.

“My partner who was behind me told me to look up in the sky and I saw that the cell phone tower was collapsing. They said a helicopter had hit her,” Arciniega told the affiliate.

The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incident, the fire department said.

“It will be a broad investigation due to the magnitude of the accident,” Díaz said. If residents find parts of the helicopter in the area, they should avoid touching them and notify firefighters or police, he added.