Situation report

Peru has been hit by a series of intense floods and landslides that have caused 27 deaths and widespread damage in the southern, central and northern highlands.

Although the Cuzco and Puno regions have been hardest hit, other regions have endured damages from the heavy rains. These include Apurímac,Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Junín, Lambayeque,San Martín, Huánuco and Amazonas regions.

Close to 10,000 homes have been destroyed, most of them due to the the intense rains that caused the Vilcanota river to overflow causing substantial damage along the Urubamba river valley (Sacred Valley of the Incas). The National Institute of Civil Defence (INDECI) calculates over 20,000 persons have been left homeless or are directly affected.

As has been widely reported the main railway that connects the city of Cuzco with the archeological citadel of Machu Picchu has been seriously damaged and is currently undergoing reparations. There was also significant damage to the nearby town of Aguas Calientes, which houses many of the hotels and hostels for local and foreign tourists.

According to the Ministry of Commerce and Tourism (MINCETUR) the railway is expected to reopen in April. In the meantime access to Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail is closed.

For the latest update from MINCETUR click here