A helicopter carrying 14 people, including several toursits, is reportedly missing in Peru, police said Thursday.
The helicopter was carrying more than a dozen tourists. Eleven South Koreans, two Austrians, and the Peruvian pilot are all missing. There were on visiting Machu Picchu, one of the world's most famous tourist sites.
CNN reports that rescue crews are searching for the helipcopter in a major tourist area of Peru. The helicopter ownded by Cuzco-based Helicusco was last heard from late Wednesday afternoon. It was heading for Cuzco from the town of Mazuco in neighboring Madre de Dios state, said police Gen. Hector Dulanto, who is in charge of rescue operation. It disappeared at an altitude of 15,500 feet, about 90 miles from the Cuzco.
Another helicopter set out to search for the aircraft and its occupants, but efforts have been slowed by bad weather.
"Snowfall at dawn has hampered the progress of the patrols," he said, adding that a police helicopter would join the rescue effort once the storm had passed,." Dulanto said.
Ground crews are continuing to search.
"We hope the helicopter was able to make an emergency landing," Dulanto told AFP.
Cusco, a main tourist area, brings hundreds of thousands of tourist who wish to see Machu Picchu, a 15th century Incan city perched on a mountain high above the town of Aguas Caliente
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