An Ethiopian Airlines passenger jet bound for Nairobi has crashed minutes after take-off, killing all 157 people on board.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 left Bole airport in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, at 8:38am (05:38 GMT) on Sunday and lost contact with the control tower just a few minutes later, at 8:44am (05:44 GMT). 

"There are no survivors," the airline tweeted alongside a picture of CEO Tewolde GebreMariam holding up a piece of debris inside a large crater at the crash site.

According to Ethiopian Airlines, these are the nationalities of the victims that have so far been identified: 

• Kenyans: 32
• Canadians: 18
• Ethiopians: 9
• Chinese: 8
• Italians: 8
• Americans: 8
• French: 7
• British: 7
• Egyptians: 6
• Germans: 5
• Indians: 4
• Slovakians: 4
• Austrians: 3
• Russias: 3
• Swedes: 3
• Spanish: 2
• Israelis: 2
• Moroccans: 2
• Polish: 2
• Belgian: 1
• Djibouti: 1
• Indonesian: 1
• Irish: 1
• Mozambican: 1
• Norwegian: 1
• Rwandan: 1
• Saudi: 1
• Sudanese: 1
• Somali: 1
• Serbian: 1
• Togolese: 1
• Ugandan: 1
• Yemeni: 1
• Nepalese: 1
• Nigerian: 1

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, told journalists Kenya is the worst affected nation after the crash that occurred earlier today when a brand new Boeing to Nairobi crashed just six minutes on take-off from Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa.

"There were at least thirty-five nationalities and regrettably Kenya is the highest with 32 passengers on board. We are focusing more on the welfare of the friends and relatives of the passengers who are as at now at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel within the vicinity of the airport," Macharia said.

In the Kenyan capital, family members, friends, and colleagues of passengers were frantically waiting for news at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

African Union commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat said he had learnt of the crash "with utter shock and immense sadness.

"Our prayers are with the families of the passengers + crew as authorities search for survivors. I also express our full solidarity with the Govt & people of Ethiopia," he said on Twitter.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's office tweeted it "would like to express its deepest condolences to the families of those that have lost their loved ones."

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta said he was "saddened" by the news, adding: "My prayers go to all the families and associates of those on board."

Mahboub Maalim, executive secretary of the IGAD East African bloc, said the region and the world were in mourning.

"I cannot seem to find words comforting enough to the families and friends of those who might have lost their lives in this tragedy," he said in a statement.