British travelers were on trains involved in a tragic collision near a popular tourist destination that resulted in one fatality and 40 injuries. The incident occurred when two trains collided on a railway line transporting tourists to Machu Picchu in Peru from Ollantaytambo village.
Reports indicate that train driver Roberto Cárdenas lost his life in the crash. While it is uncertain if any British nationals were harmed, tourists were among those injured in the accident. Footage from the scene depicts two trains operated by Inca Rail and PeruRail crashing into each other on the route to Machu Picchu.
Emergency services responded to the scene around 1:20 pm local time, or 6:20 pm GMT the previous day. Passengers and crew members were seen urgently requesting medical assistance as injured individuals received treatment. Inca Rail confirmed its involvement in the tragic incident and dispatched personnel to assist with evacuating passengers safely.
The collision happened in a remote area of the Andes mountains, complicating rescue efforts due to the challenging terrain. Concerns have been raised about the chaotic handling of casualty transportation, with Cusco governor Werner Salcedo criticizing the prioritization of business interests over the well-being of injured individuals by private clinics.
Peruvian authorities have halted local rail services to facilitate area security measures.