Lima - Seven children aged between 11 and 14 years and two teachers died when a bridge they were crossing collapsed in the Andean district of Cora Cora, in Ayacucho province, officials said. The tragedy left 53 other people injured, 14 of them in critical condition.

The 100-metre bridge was said to be poorly maintained, and collapsed as children and teachers from three schools were crossing. The victims fell as far as 80 metres down into a precipice, officials said.

Authorities acknowledged that many of the mountainous country's bridges are in states of disrepair.

"Each regional government, each municipality, as well as the central government, will have to make detailed reports. This is a problem we have inherited from many years ago," said Yehude Simon, president of the government's Council of Ministers.

Maria Torrealva, regional health director of Ayacucho, said rescue efforts were made more difficult because helicopters offered by a private mining company were unable to reach the site due to poor weather conditions. (Dpa)