A small plane carrying tourists to see Peru's famed Nazca Lines archaeological site crashed on Saturday, killing 13 people, authorities in the Nazca province said.

Police Major Jorge Andrade at the crash site in southern Peru stated, "We have information that 11 passengers and two crew members have died." He also said that "given the severity of the accident, there are no survivors," adding that four bodies have been recovered so far.

The crash occurred in the area of Pueblo Viejo, about six kilometers (3.7 miles) from the city of Nazca and around 12 kilometers from the Nazca Lines site, according to local authorities. Local news outlet RPP reported that the small plane departed from Pisco airport to fly over the famous Nazca Lines but lost contact with the control tower minutes later.

Nazca's government said the plane was operated by local Peruvian company Aerodiana. The airline was not immediately available for comment. However, on its website, Aerodiana says it has operated scenic flights over the Nazca lines for the past 14 years.

Peruvian authorities said the accident is under investigation. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of tourist flights in the region, and further details are expected as the investigation proceeds.

Source: www.dw.com