Machu Picchu Mudslides Kill 5, Over 1,500 Still Stranded

by Amy Judd | January 26, 2010 at 08:36 pm

3397 views | 48 Recommendations | 0 comments

The historic site of Machu Picchu in Peru is the scene of mudslides still today and hundreds of tourists are evacuated by helicopter, five have been killed, and over 1,500 people are still stranded.

A tourist from Argentina and his guide were killed today when their tents that were sitting on a slope gave way and they were crushed. Three tourists were injured in that slide.

The Inca Trail has been closed due to the conditions, and the death toll is now up to five due to the heavy rains and the flowing mud. Homes in the area around the site have also collapsed.

Of the 2,000 stranded tourists in the villages of Machu Picchu Pueblo and Aguas Calientes near the citadel, government and private helicopters managed to fly 475 to safety Tuesday, Tourism Minister Martin Perez said.

"Tomorrow, if God helps us and the weather permits us, we should be able to get out 700 or 800 tourists in eight hours," Perez said.

The mudslides have also blocked the railway to Cuzco, which is the only way to get in or out of Machu Picchu so helicopters have had to be brought in by the military to help rescue efforts. Supplies are also being brough in for the stranded tourists. About 400 Americans have been counted to be stranded there at this time.

In Washington, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said about 400 American citizens were believed to be stranded.

"These are difficult conditions," he told reporters. "We've moved some embassy personnel from Lima to the area as well to try to provide assistance to the Peruvian police and military authorities."

About 700 Argentines, 309 Chileans and 30 Uruguayans were also stranded.

The area has seen five days of torrential rain, which has not only affected Machu Picchu, but also about 250 houses, the railway and hundres of acres of crops.