Brazil: A helicopter crashed in a forested and mountainous area of Rio de Janeiro's Tijuca National Park on Saturday, killing all four people on board, according to Brazilian fire officials.

The crash occurred at around 11:11 am local time in the Vista Chinesa area of Alto da Boa Vista. The helicopter came down in dense vegetation on a steep hillside, making access to the wreckage difficult.

Firefighters said the victims included the pilot and three women, who died in the fire that followed the crash. Brazilian media reported that the three women were Colombian nationals and members of the same family. Authorities had not initially released their identities officially.

Images released by the fire department showed the charred wreckage of the helicopter on the hillside, with smoke rising from the crash site.

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Crash site was difficult to access

Emergency teams were called after the crash and located the wreckage in an area covered by dense vegetation.

Specialised teams reached the site by land, while firefighting units worked to put out the fire that broke out after the helicopter went down.

The crash occurred near Vista Chinesa, a well-known landmark inside Tijuca National Park. The site features a Chinese-style pagoda and is known for its panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro. It also appeared in the 2011 animated film Rio.

Three passengers reportedly Colombian

While authorities had not yet formally released the victims' identities, local media reported that the three female passengers were Colombian tourists.

Brazilian news outlet G1 reported that the women belonged to the same family.

The pilot and the three passengers were the only people reported to have been aboard the helicopter.

Rio mayor seeks tighter helicopter oversight

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere expressed condolences to the victims' families and said he had contacted Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency, ANAC.

Cavaliere said the city had asked ANAC to immediately increase oversight of helicopter flights operating in Rio de Janeiro and to take measures aimed at ensuring flight safety.

Helicopter tours are popular among visitors to Rio, offering aerial views of landmarks and the city's coastline.

Saturday's crash comes less than two months after another fatal helicopter accident in Rio de Janeiro.

In June, two helicopters collided over the city, killing six people, including American singer Oliver Tree and Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim.

Brazil also recorded another fatal aviation accident last year when a small aircraft crashed and exploded near a beach in Ubatuba, in São Paulo state. The pilot died and seven people were injured, according to the local fire department.