Two tourist trains collide in Peru; one dead, 30 injured

Two tourist trains heading to Machu Picchu, Peru’s famous historical site, collided on Tuesday, December 30. One person was killed and about 30 passengers were injured in the accident. According to police, the deceased was a railway employee.

Following the accident, train service between Machu Picchu and the nearby city of Cusco has been temporarily suspended. According to the railway operating company, a train coming from Machu Picchu collided with another train heading in the same direction in the afternoon. The accident occurred near the Quriwayrachina area.

The cause of the collision is not yet known. Photos and videos published in local media showed the two trains stuck on the railway line between the jungle and large rocks. The front of both train engines was severely damaged, with broken and shattered windows.

Machu Picchu receives approximately 1.5 million tourists every year. Most visitors arrive by train to the town of Aguas Calientes. The site, built by the Inca civilization in the 15th century, is known for its precise stonework. The number of tourists visiting Machu Picchu has increased by about 25% in the last decade.