Boulders on Railway Lines Trap Hundreds of Visitors at Peru's Historic Site
Around nearly a thousand travelers were left stranded near the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu recently, as stated by Peru’s tourism minister.
The incident occurred because the local railway ceased operations following local demonstrations. Protesters had set large stones and debris along the railway route, preventing transportation services.
Cause of the Disruption
The protest began recently when the contract expired for Consettur that transports tourists between the nearby town to the entrance of the ancient ruins.
Protesters state that decisions are being made opaquely and impartiality in the process of replacing the shuttle provider. They are calling for greater local involvement in the area's primary source of income.
Evacuation Efforts
Tourism officials reported that over a thousand visitors were evacuated earlier this week, but around 900 were left behind in Aguas Calientes.
Besides the blockades, demonstrators additionally excavated portions of the train tracks, which affected the structural integrity of the line and hindered evacuation efforts.
A group of tourists reportedly walking out because of the unrest.
Local government are working to restore transportation and ensure the secure evacuation of all remaining travelers.
