Machu Picchu: search and rescue continues for a missing person after a huaico (PHOTOS)

In addition to damage to hotels, restaurants, homes, destroying part of the railway and leaving several injured, the landslide caused by the overflow of the Alccamayo River in Machu Picchu, leaves a missing resident so far, the same one who is intensely sought after by his relatives. and authorities.

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Félix Escalante Chambi (55) is the original inhabitant of Machu Picchu, that was surprised by the avalanche of mud and rocks last Friday morning, when the Alccamayo River overflowed its course, causing a real emergency.

The mayor of the District Municipality of Machu Picchu, Darwin Baca, pointed out to Mail that the search and rescue efforts have continued since yesterday and that despite the enormous effort made by both officials and residents, So far they have not found the whereabouts of the missing person.

“We have a backhoe, a mechanical shovel and a dump truck working on site but we can’t keep up, we need the Regional Government of Cusco to send heavy machinery, we are still waiting for that support, the disaster is big and we need equipment and logistics”, said the burgomaster.

So far there are about 200 people working in the search for the Machupiccheño settler, including police, watchmen and residents, it was learned that the machinery has already managed to remove the debris from his home, but he still has to get to the place where his carpentry worked, where he would have tried to shelter from the event.

EMERGENCY IN MACHU PICCHU

A river overflow, which brought with it tons of debris, mud and rocks, surprised neighbors and tourists in Machu Picchu (Cusco) last Friday morning. Minutes before 06:00 hours, the population was still resting, when a loud sound alerted everyone. Minutes later, hotels, restaurants, houses and all facilities that remain in the lower part, towards the river side, were affected; So far, the authorities have reported heavy losses and a missing villager.

Once the event occurred, the population itself was the first to go to the victims, two locals and a Mexican tourist had to be rescued from inside the facilities that were practically buried in the Empire of the Incas Avenue, while other residents helped to recover belongings and other items from other destroyed businesses.

According to Preliminary Report No. 01 – 01/21/2022 / OGRD-MDM, there are two railway bridges and two bridges affected, 10 houses completely flooded and one person missing, In addition to having lost part of the railway and the PeruRail train station, which was flooded with mud and stones.

Without a doubt, one of the most affected facilities was the Inkaterra hotel, which was even isolated after the emergency. Heavy machinery arrived at the site in order to continue with the works of debris collection and rehabilitation of roads, So far there are two houses completely destroyed and an average of 500 residents affected.

Regarding the rail service, Ferrocarril Transandino SA, the concessionaire of the railway, reported that all operations of train services on the route to Machu Picchu have been canceled Until further notice, meanwhile, the passengers who left Cusco and could not reach Machu Picchu due to the mudslide, had to return and put themselves in a safe place.

The Decentralized Directorate of Culture Cusco reported that the Machu Picchu Archaeological Park did not present any damage due to overflow, and that the attention for locals and visitors will remain in force except for new indications.

FACT:

– “Construction of gabions in the Alccamayo and Vilcanota rivers” is the name of the project aimed at protecting the population from this type of disaster, the same one that was already approved last August, but to date does not have a budget.