A forest fire in Machu Picchu has affected 1.5 hectares of primary forest since Monday

Lima.- The forest fire that has been raging since last Monday in the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu, in southeastern Peru, has preliminarily affected 1.5 hectares of primary (virgin or native) forest, at kilometer 107.4 of the access road to the town, and is being fought by specialized brigades, the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment reported this Wednesday.

The National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State (Sernanp), under the aforementioned ministry, specified that the brigades are carrying out direct combat efforts in a high-difficulty scenario, with slopes close to 70%, falling rocks, and dislodged logs.

A technical assessment by Sernanp determined that it is a mixed-type fire (surface and underground) at the base of Poques hill, within the area of the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary, a protected natural area that preserves one of the most important ecosystems in the country and is part of the world heritage.

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In addition to the brigades that include 15 park rangers, eight municipal workers, and six members of the transport company to the citadel, the Ministry of Environment announced the support of military personnel to reinforce fire control efforts.

Emergency in the area

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) indicated in a statement that it is “carrying out permanent monitoring of the situation” and confirmed that “as a consequence of this emergency, they temporarily suspended the circulation of trains on that section for safety reasons.”

The ministry requested “the understanding of domestic and foreign tourists regarding the measures adopted” by the railway concessionaire, Ferrocarril Trasandino (Fetransa).

These measures “have as their primary objective to safeguard the integrity of passengers, operational personnel, and to guarantee safe and adequate conditions to restore the operation of the railway,” he indicated.

The company Peru Rail, which operates the trains to the Inca citadel, confirmed that three frequencies did not depart from the Ollantaytambo station this Tuesday, in addition to seven others from the Machu Picchu station.

The archaeological site, which is located more than 2,400 meters above sea level in the jungle area of Cusco, has been receiving 5,600 daily visitors since last June, following the start of the high season, which led to an increase in the capacity initially set at 4,600 people.