Thirteen people, including foreign tourists, died in a plane crash near the Nazca Lines in southern Peru, local authorities reported. The aircraft, a Cessna Grand Caravan, went down in the area of Pueblo Viejo, roughly six kilometers from the city of Nazca and about 12 kilometers from the archaeological site known for its ancient geoglyphs.

According to officials, the flight took off from the nearby city of Pisco at approximately 1 p.m. local time and was intended to provide aerial views of the Nazca Lines, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring a series of large pre-Columbian designs etched into the desert floor. Minutes after departure, the plane lost contact with the control tower, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation.

Among the victims were 11 tourists and two pilots. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the crash and have initiated an investigation. The Nazca Lines cover an area of nearly 1,000 square kilometers and attract numerous visitors interested in viewing the site from the air.

Emergency response teams arrived at the crash site to recover the bodies and secure the area. Further details regarding the identities of the victims or specifics of the flight’s final moments have not been released. Officials emphasized that the investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances that led to the accident.