Indonesian authorities say a helicopter carrying 10 people in eastern Indonesia disappeared from radar screens shortly after takeoff Wednesday.

Officials say search and rescue operations were launched immediately from the North Sulawesi provincial capital, Manado.

Local residents are quoted as saying the weather was bad when the helicopter disappeared, and witnesses said they heard an explosion from the direction of a nearby mountain shortly after the copter was airborne.

Local media say six Indonesians and four Australians were on board.