A Sudanese state governor and four other government officials have been reportedly killed after a helicopter crashed in the eastern remote state of Al-Qadarif.

Reports say the helicopter exploded after it hit a communications tower as it tried to land in Al-Qadarif.

Among those who died in the crash are the Governor of Al-Qadarif, Mirghani Saleh, his Cabinet Chief, the local Police Chief and the country’s Minister of Agriculture while others who sustained various degrees of injuries have been taken to hospital for treatment.

Although no official reason has been given for the crash, this is not the first time such incidence would occur this year in the northern African country.

In October, eight people were injured when two Sudanese planes collided on the runway at the airport in Khartoum, the country’s capital. In September, two pilots were killed when a military jet crashed near Omdurman.