Lima, June 10 (IANS) At least 12 people were killed after a bus skidded off the road and plunged into a ravine on a highway in Peru's Pataz province.

The accident occurred in an area known as the "Devil's Balcony", as the vehicle, owned by the Turismo Rosita company, was covering the Trujillo-Pataz route in the highlands of the region, reports Xinhua news agency.

The bus was carrying about 30 passengers, of which four were injured and 11 are missing, sub-prefect of Parcoy Eleodoro Castaneda told local media on Wednesday.

Those injured were taken to health centres in the towns of Vijus and Chagual.

--IANS ksk/