A small private helicopter crashed on the Greek Aegean island of Sifnos on Monday evening, killing all three people on board.

Axar.az reports, citing Greek newspaper Kathimerini, that the Bell 206 helicopter had just taken off from a helipad in the Tholos area when it crashed in an inhabited area.

No homes were hit, according to the report.

The aircraft apparently exploded on impact, sparking a fire that local firefighters were working to contain.

The identities and nationalities of the pilot and two passengers were not immediately known. Rescuers were being sent by sea from the nearby island of Syros.