At least 15 people, including seven children, were killed after a Peruvian military helicopter crashed in the South American country on Sunday.

Reports noted that the Mi-17 helicopter was conducting a support mission flight for flood victims with 11 passengers and four crew members on Sunday when the aircraft vanished from radar, which resulted in loss of radio contact. 

Authorities immediately initiated an intensive search and rescue operation with a joint team of police and Peruvian special forces, who later found the wreckage of the helicopter in the country’s Arequipa region.

The remains of the victims, including children aged three and 17 years old, were found at the scene. 

The adults killed in the crash have been identified as Colonel Javier Nole Gonzales, an Air Force officer, Elisa Bernel Paredes,  Zoila Fernandez Medina, Sergio Danner Paucar Centurión, Luis Cárcamo, Kamila  Jove, and Leiner Huamán.