Four people, including three Colombian tourists from the same family, were killed after a helicopter crashed in Rio de Janeiro's Tijuca National Park on Saturday, August 8.

The victims included the helicopter's pilot and three women who were travelling as part of a Colombian family group visiting Rio de Janeiro.

Brazilian firefighters confirmed that all four people on board died in the crash. Images released by the Rio de Janeiro Fire Department showed firefighters working at the crash site, where the helicopter came down on a steep and difficult-to-access hillside.

Three Colombian Tourists Killed

Colombia's Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, Diana Paez, told AFP that the three women were members of the same family.

According to Paez, the family had travelled from Colombia to Rio de Janeiro to celebrate a girl's 15th birthday.

The group consisted of six people, but they had to split into two groups because the helicopter could accommodate only three passengers at a time.

The girl's grandmother, aunt and cousin were among those who boarded the first flight and were killed in the crash.

The teenager was scheduled to take a second helicopter flight later with her father and his partner.

Crash in Tijuca National Park

The helicopter crashed in Tijuca National Park, a densely forested mountainous area in the heart of Rio de Janeiro.

The aircraft went down near Vista Chinesa, a well-known tourist viewpoint featuring a Chinese-style pagoda and panoramic views of the city.

The location made rescue and recovery operations particularly difficult because of the steep terrain and dense vegetation.

Firefighters released images showing the aircraft's wreckage smoking after the crash.

Victim Identification Underway

The Colombian consulate assisted Brazilian authorities with the identification of the victims.

The process was complicated by the condition of the bodies following the crash and fire.

Brazilian authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, including the condition of the helicopter, flight operations and the cause of the crash.

No immediate official explanation for the accident was provided.

Mayor Calls for Safety Monitoring

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere said he had asked Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency to immediately increase monitoring of helicopter flights.

The move comes amid renewed concerns about the safety of helicopter tourism in the city.

Helicopter rides are a popular attraction in Rio de Janeiro, offering tourists aerial views of the city's beaches, mountains, forests and other landmarks.

Another Deadly Helicopter Accident in Rio

The latest crash comes just weeks after another helicopter accident in the Rio region.

In June, two helicopters collided in mid-air over Rio de Janeiro, killing six people. The victims included American singer Oliver Tree and Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim, according to reports.

The latest accident is likely to renew scrutiny of helicopter tourism and flight safety standards in one of Brazil's most visited tourist destinations.

Authorities are continuing to examine the crash site and work to determine what caused the helicopter to go down.