AT least 23 people were killed in Peru after a bus plummeted down a 1,000ft ravine.

The crash took place on a crumbling clifftop road in the northern Peruvian district of Cusca as the bus made its way between Tayabamba and the country’s capital, Lima.

The vehicle fell off the cliff while traveling on the PE-12A national highway as it passed through the municipality of Yánac.

It is understood 23 people have died and six more injured, local media reports.

Local government had previously called for repairs on the road’s “terrible conditions”.

Town mayor, Carlos Pinedo, urged authorities to improve this section of the road.

“This road is in terrible conditions and as a result of that, of those failures that are all hollow, now are the consequences,” he said.

“We should not wait for more deaths.”

Rescue operations are underway in the remote area, located some 10,000 feet above sea level, the Regional Emergency Operations Center for the Ancash Region said.

Cops have not yet determined the cause of the crash.

Road accidents, in particular deadly bus crashes, are frequent in the South American country, especially those involving drivers going at high speeds on poorly maintained mountain roads.

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In September, 25 bus passengers died in an accident in the south of the country.

Not even a month later, in August, another accident in the same region killed 13, leaving five seriously injured.

It comes after at least 38 people were killed after bus overflowing with people plunged 800ft into a gorge.

The horror crash happened after the passenger bus slid off a mountain highway in India leaving 19 others with critical injuries.

The bus had 50 people on it when it crashed including young girls as the country mourns the awful deaths.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a message to the victims and their families before announcing financial compensation for anyone directly affected by the tragic crash.

He said: “The bus accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir is distressing.

“My condolences to the families who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest.”

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