A head-on Train collision going to Machu Picchu!
Lima, Dec 30 (EFE).-
A head-on collision between two trains on the track to Machu Picchu, Peru, left one dead and at least 30 people injured, one seriously, on Tuesday, according to the Peruvian National Police in the Cusco region (south).
According to Ferrocarril Transandino (FTSA), the railway concessionaire, the collision occurred at around 1:20 pm local time at kilometer 94.4, as the trains passed through Pampacahua, a difficult area where the tracks run parallel to the Vilcanota River in the Cusco region.
Initial images showed that the collision occurred in an area where there is a single track on which trains run in both directions, and at least one of the two trains involved was carrying tourists, both domestic and foreign, including Brazilians.
The collision occurred between trains operated by Peru Rail and Inca Rail, the only two railway companies that operate on the track concessioned to Ferrocarril Transandino. One was traveling from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu, and the other was traveling in the opposite direction.
The Ministry of Health said in a statement that it sent a total of twelve ambulances to the scene to provide specialized support to the injured, without yet determining the number of people affected.
Peru Rail said it was evacuating the injured in two railcars after providing first aid to the engineer, the train conductor, and the passengers. “We deeply regret what happened,” the company said.
The railway to Machu Picchu is one of the most popular routes for tourists visiting the Inca citadel, covering approximately 43 kilometers from the town of Ollantaytambo to the municipality of Machu Picchu, through canyons and rugged Andean and jungle landscapes along the Vilcanota River. EFE
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