A passenger van veered off a mountainous road and plunged into a river in northern Pakistan, killing 11 people and injuring three others, rescue officials and police said Friday.

Axar.az reports, citing The Associated Press, that the crash happened in the Gilgit-Baltistan region Thursday night after the driver lost control of the vehicle, local police official Mohammad Afzal said.

Rescuers said a search and rescue operation continued into early Friday, and all 11 bodies and the three injured people had been taken to a nearby hospital. Regional Chief Minister Amjad Hussain in a statement expressed his deep sorrow and grief over the road accident and instructed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured.