The landslide dragged a large mass of earth and debris, and reached the Vilcanota River, on whose banks the town of Machu Picchu extends,
The intense rains registered in the Andean region of Cusco (Peru) caused yesterday, Friday, the overflow of the Alcamayo River, which covered the streets of the town of Machu Picchu with stones and mud, located in the lower part of the mountains where the tourist Inca citadel is located.
As reported by the Regional Emergency Operations Center, which continues to assess the damage from the event, so far there is evidence of one person injured and another missing, In addition to a destroyed house, four affected and various damages in three commercial premises in the town, also known as Aguas Calientes and located in the Cusco province of Urubamba.
“This huaico (slide), as you can see, is of a considerable magnitude, large, where unfortunately it has directly affected some homes and also possibly a neighbor is missing,” the mayor of Machu Picchu, Darwin Baca, told the press. .
The alluvium occurred around 6:05 AM, when the flow of the Alcamayo River increased considerably due to the rains recorded during Thursday night, and caused a landslide that reached the town where thousands of tourists go before going up to the archaeological park. from Machu Picchu.
The ‘huaico’ dragged a large mass of earth, stones and debris and finally reached the Vilcanota River, on whose banks the town of Machu Picchu extends.
Images spread on social networks show how the mud invaded the streets of the town, the first floors of several houses, hotels and restaurants, as well as the railways that transport tourists to the Inca citadel.
While the damage to the tracks and the train station in the Machu Picchu district is being evaluated, railway operations were suspended, according to the PeruRail company in a statement, in which it assured that the emergency did not leave any injuries among its passengers and workers. .
Brigade members from the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) traveled to the scene to verify the damage caused by the flood and support the displacement of the affected population to safe areas.
In this sense, the National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI) detailed in a statement that the competent authorities evaluate the security conditions in the non-collapsed bridges, in order to facilitate the transfer of tourists and the local population via rail to the town of Ollantaytambo. , located about 30 kilometers from Machu Picchu.
“It has been coordinated so that the tourists who are here in Machu Picchu can leave for a safer place. There is a bridge that we can still use, that we have reinforced, and from there tourists can continue towards the cars of the PeruRail company and leave towards Ollantaytambo”, ratified the mayor.
At the same time, workers and residents of the affected town carry out cleaning and debris removal tasks, together with members of the National Police of Peru, who also carry out search and rescue work.
In addition, INDECI reported that the company Electro Sur Este activated its contingency plan to restore electricity service in the area, which was left without supply after the emergency. (I)
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