A tragic bus crash in the Andes mountains of Peru has resulted in the deaths of at least 29 people and injuries to more than a dozen others, according to the country’s interior ministry.

The crash occurred on the Los Libertadores highway in the Ayacucho region, located in the south-central Andes. The interior ministry announced via social media on Tuesday afternoon that Peruvian police were conducting a search-and-rescue operation. Thirteen injured individuals have been evacuated from the crash site so far.

Local sources reported that that the crash happened in the early morning hours as the bus, carrying over 40 people, veered off a cliff approximately 200 meters (656 feet) high. The bus was en route to Ayacucho from the capital, Lima.

An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the crash.

Deadly bus accidents are common on Peru’s precarious mountain roads, posing a significant risk to travelers in the region. (ILKHA)