Fire near Machu Picchu route kills one and injures two
A Cusco disaster official says controlled bush burning spread in hot, windy conditions amid dry vegetation in the Sacred Valley.
One elderly person has died and two people have suffered second-degree burns in a fire near the main access route to Machu Picchu, according to Peru’s Cusco Regional Office for Disaster Management and Safety.
The blaze began on Friday in the Sacred Valley, in the Cusco region. The exact location and the fire’s extent were not specified in the report.
Miguel Osco, head of the regional disaster management office, told RPP radio that the fire started with controlled bush burning carried out by farmers to clear land for crops. He said hot, windy weather and dry vegetation helped the flames spread.
The Sacred Valley includes Ollantaytambo train station, a major stop for travellers visiting Machu Picchu. The report did not say whether the fire affected access to the site or train services.
Machu Picchu, built by the Incas in the 15th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
