Heavy Rain and Mudslides near Machu Picchu

The southern mountain areas of Peru have received almost record amounts of rain which has cause massive mudslides around this area.  Access to the popular tourist destination of Machu Picchu has been cut off now for several days by mudslides that have destroyed roads in and around this area as well as washing over and damaging railway tracks that lead into the areas.  This area receives a large number of tourist from all over the world who come to see the ruins at Machu Picchu and as a result of the pouring rain and mud slides have been unable to leave these areas.  It was estimated that upwards of 2,000 people were trapped in the area of the ruins with most needing to be flow out by helicopter.

As with most disasters the mud slides, torrential rain and flooding has also claimed the lives of 10 people who live and work in the areas of the ruins and also Aguas Calientes which is the access point for tourists travelling to the ruins by train.  The people in these areas are very poor and many have been left homeless as the mud sides have destroyed their homes.

Following the mudslides in the southern mountain areas of Peru upwards of 2,000 people were stranded at and around the ruins area.  The Peruvian government had provided a handful of helicopters to help with the evacuation which was described as chaotic by tourists that had made it out.  The Peruvian helicopters can only take 25 people and the turnaround time for the flight in and out is just over an hour.  The US had provided six helicopters to help with the evacuation effort and they were used to great effect when the weather cleared on Thursday.

Currently efforts are being made to ensure that all the tourists have been flown out of the areas affected by the mudslides and torrential rain.  This area is popular with tourists from all over the world and the Peruvian government have described these mudslides as the worst in 20 years.  It is estimated that the damage caused by the mudslides and the torrential rain will go well into the 200 million amount.