Guatemala City  - The number of dead in the crash of a private plane Sunday in eastern Guatemala has risen to 11, after one of four people injured in the accident died of his wounds, hospital sources said Monday.

Seven US citizens are among the dead, including one who was initially identified as Guatemalan by the authorities. The four remaining dead - including the pilot and the copilot of the plane - were Guatemalans.

Three other passengers from the United States survived and were hospitalized with serious injuries.

Most of the victims - many of them members of the same family - were said to have been in Guatemala as missionaries in a visit organized by the religious organization Choice Humanitarian.

On Sunday, the plane had taken off from Guatemala City and was bound for the tourist town of El Estor on the Caribbean before the crash in Cabanas, about 160 kilometres east of the capital.

The plane attempted to make an emergency landing but crashed and caught fire. The dead bodies found on the site were charred, rescue officials said.

The causes of the crash were not immediately known, although the authorities suspected that it might have been the result of a faulty engine.

The plane - a 14-seat Cessna Caravan - was bought from the manufacturer less than six years ago. (dpa)