Andina

Peru: Fire brigades fight forest fire at Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu

Photo: ANDINA

Photo: ANDINA

09:31 | Urubamba (Cusco region), Jun. 30.

Fire Brigades made up of forest firefighters, National Police agents, Culture Ministry staff, and municipal patrol guards are fighting the forest fire that has been burning since Tuesday, June 28, in the San Antonio de Torontoy sector, inside the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu located in Urubamba province in the region of Cusco.

According to latest reports, the forest fire has destroyed 40 hectares of natural land. 

Moreover, no damage to life and health of people has been observed. The fire appears to be under control.


In this regard, the National Civil Defense Institute (Indeci) last night reported that staff of the National Service for Natural Areas Protected by the State (Sernanp), the National Archaeological Park of Machu Picchu, the Decentralized Directorate of Indeci in said region, as well as private companies PeruRail and InkaRail, are coordinating response actions to deal with the emergency.

In addition, they are working together to implement a command post in the town of Pampacahua to respond to this event.

After confirming that the fire has destroyed 40 hectares of natural land, Indeci stated that local authorities continue to conduct the damage assessment and needs analysis.


The flames have reached the area of Llamakancha, an archaeological monument located inside the Archaeological Park of Machu Picchu. 

According to the District Municipality of Machu Picchu, the fire might have caused damage to archaeological remains.

For its part, the Satellite Monitoring Unit of the National Forest and Wildlife Service (Serfor) confirmed that the forest fire appeared at kilometer 95 of the Ollantaytambo-Machu Picchu railway, in the Pampacahua sector, inside the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

(END) MAO/RMB/MVB

Published: 6/30/2022