20:09 | Cusco (Cusco region), Jul. 31.
Two trains crashed on Tuesday morning near the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu leaving at least 35 people injured, and two of them seriously wounded, the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) has reported.
According to the National Police, the names of the victims include: Noel Santiago Marrero (50), Wanda Alvelo Maldonado (33), Paulina Nicole Reyes Cabello (32), Valentina Constanza Neira Reyes, Karen Alejandra Reyes Cabello, Nicolás Andres Baez Reyes, Francisco Reyes Espinoza, Maria Isabel Cabello Arratia, Luis Francisco Reyes Espinoza, Alexandro Loayza Patara (28), Marshall Myers (70), Frank Michel, Jean Marie Judeaux (49), Shin Keun yong, Yeeyun Yang, Roxana Mora Palacion (32), and Andres Lopez Luna (31).
Machu Picchu
The incident took place at about 10:20 AM on 88 km of the railroad to Machu Picchu —between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu Town (Aguas Calientes)— when an Inca Rail train was hit by another unit from PeruRail railway company.
As stated by one of the passengers, one of the trains had stopped —on 82 km of the railroad— because of a protest by domestic tourists, who blocked the railway track.
"One of Inca Rail trains left Ollantaytambo at about 6:40 AM and stopped 40 minutes later because of the protest. We stopped for an hour, then the protest was cleared, the train continued its route, and five minutes later we felt a strong impact on the back. It was a PeruRail train that hit us," Valeria Lozana stated.
"Two Inca Rail seats flew through the air," the witness said.
According to the police, a group of 30 domestic tourists created a human blockage as they were not able to purchase their tickets to Machu Picchu Town, thus preventing the Inca Rail train from passing through.
(END) TMC/MAO/RMB/MVB
Published: 7/31/2018