A severe head-on collision occurred between trains on the railway heading to the ancient Inca city of "Machu Picchu," Peru’s renowned World Heritage site, last Tuesday. The crash resulted in the death of one train driver and over 40 tourists injured. Authorities are rushing the injured to Cusco city, while many tourists remain stranded in the difficult-to-access area.
The impact caused the train driver to die at the scene, with at least 40 people injured, including 20 seriously wounded. Rescue teams dispatched more than 20 ambulances to the site to transport victims to medical facilities in Cusco city.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Peru confirmed that American citizens were among the injured. However, police are still investigating and verifying the identities of all those involved.
Local media report that hundreds of tourists remain trapped at the accident site awaiting evacuation, which is challenging due to the location between Ollantaytambo station and the town of Aguas Calientes. This area is a rugged valley with difficult terrain, normally about a 90-minute journey. Both trains were operated by PeruRail and Inca Rail companies.
Although the exact cause of the accident has not been confirmed, it is notable that the incident occurred amid ongoing disputes between transport service providers to this World Heritage site. Local communities have expressed dissatisfaction with the opaque concession bidding process.
Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, located in the Andes Mountains. Access is only possible by train followed by bus or on foot via the Inca Trail, making the transport business highly profitable and competitive amid current concerns about overtourism.
. BBC