At least 11 people were killed, including two children, police and Red Cross officials said.

Paranaque's Mayor, Florencio Bernabe, said no classes were in session when the plane crash landed shortly after take-off from an airport in Manila.

A fire at the school quickly spread to surrounding shanty houses. It is not clear how many people were on board.

"The crash set fire to at least 30 houses. These are shanties, made of light materials," said Gwendolyn Pang, of the Philippine Red Cross.

Ramon Gutierrez, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said the light plane had sent out a distress call shortly after take-off.