United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Tourists to be airlifted from Machu Picchu
Friday, 26 Jan, 2010
0
Almost 2,000 tourists stranded by heavy rains in Machu Picchu in Peru are to be airlifted to safety.
Up to 40 landslides have been triggered by heavy rain, one of which blocked the rail connection between the Inca ruins and the city of Cuzco, the BBC reported.
Two people are reported to have died when a mudslide destroyed their home.
Peru’s tourism minister Martin Perez said the armed forces would be deployed to airlift tourists who had been unable to leave.
The stranded tourists would be gradually evacuated, beginning with children and the elderly.
The railway was blocked by a landslide on Saturday, one of many which have blocked roads and destroyed homes in the region.
Authorities in Cuzco have declared a state of emergency in the south-eastern region of Peru where up to 3,000 people have had their homes destroyed by floods and landslides, according to reports.
The historic centre of Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire has also been damaged.
A colonial-era house has collapsed and last week part of the Sacsayhuaman, the Inca fortress which flanks the city, was damaged by the intense rains, according to the BBC.
Related News Stories:
Phil Davies
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Storm Lilian travel chaos as bank holiday flights cancelled