The collision of a train towards Machu Picchu leaves 1 dead and 30 injured, including 3 Brazilians, according to the press | World

The accident occurred around 1:20 p.m. local time (3:20 p.m. Brasilia time) on the single-track railway that connects the town of Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu, in the Andean region of Cusco. A train from the PeruRail company collided head-on with another from the Inca Rail company for reasons still unknown.

According to the Peruvian newspaper La República, the driver of one of the trains died. He was identified as Roberto Cardenas Loayza, 61, who had just celebrated his birthday on December 22.

General Julio Becerra of the Peruvian National Police told the local newspaper that the injured had been transported to different hospitals in the city of Cusco. Specialist investigation and forensic teams were called to the scene to investigate the incident.

Also according to La República, the preliminary list of passengers for the PeruRail train contained 54 people. A Brazilian interviewed by the newspaper said he was on one of the trains and said the collision had affected part of his foot and leg, but was not serious. Another Brazilian couple also reported having difficulty getting out of the wrecked vehicle after the incident.

Cusco Governor Werner Salcedo said he had already sent letters to the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC), which is responsible for the concession, as well as to the two railway companies. “This is the image of Peru in the world. Today, Machu Picchu is trapped in a commercialization that leaves much to be desired, a situation created by the Ministry of Culture,” he said.