Train Collision in Peru
Two trains carrying tourists to Peru’s iconic Machu Picchu collided on Tuesday, resulting in at least one death and around 30 injuries.
Inspector Jonathan Castillo Gonzalez from the Cusco Police Department confirmed that the deceased was a railway worker.
He mentioned to the Associated Press that train services connecting Machu Picchu and the city of Cusco have been suspended following the incident.
According to the railway operator, a train coming from Machu Picchu struck another train that was headed toward the same location near the ruins, Kolihuaratina, in the early afternoon.
Details regarding the cause of the crash are still unclear.
Local media captured footage showing damaged vehicles with shattered windows and bent sides stranded along the tracks in a lush setting filled with large boulders.
Machu Picchu attracts about 1.5 million visitors annually, most of whom travel by train to the nearby town of Aguas Calientes.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its meticulously fitted stone structures, was established by the Incas in the 15th century as a refuge for emperors.
In recent years, the number of visitors to Machu Picchu has increased by approximately 25%, although tourism has periodically suffered due to political unrest and conflicts over site management, occasionally leading to railway blockages.
There’s also a hiking route from the town of Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu, which typically takes about four days to complete.
