Unrest after Castillo’s Decay in Machu Picchu: News from the World’s Largest Travellers’ Digest
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About 300 tourists from around the world have been left stranded in the ancient city of Machu Picchu, according to the mayor, after Peru was plunged into a state of emergency following the ousting of the country’s president.
Castillo was impeached and subsequently arrested in early December after announcing his plan to dissolve Congress. The unrest sparked by his arrest prompted international warnings about travel to Peru. Peruvians, South Americans, Americans and Europeans are among the stranded travelers.
The government has been asked to help evacuate the tourists by setting up helicopter flights. The only way to get in and out of the town is by train, and these services are suspended until further notice, he said.
Trains to and from Machu Picchu , the primary means of accessing UNESCO World Heritage Site, were halted on Tuesday, according to a statement from PeruRail, Peru’s railway operator in the south and southeast regions of the country.
La La Habana del Parque Intern Regional de Peru: Desenvolvimento a la Prohibición de Protestaciones Interamericanas
To end the unrest, the government should have a dialogue with the local population.
“We regret the inconvenience that these announcements generate for our passengers; however, they are due to situations beyond the control of our company and seek to prioritize the safety of passengers and workers,” the company said in a statement.
Peru’s Ministry of Transport said Friday that flights had resumed from the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco after they were temporarily suspended amid protests in the country. Operations to and from Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón International Airport in Arequipa remain suspended.
LATAM keeps a constant eye on the political situation in Peru to provide the pertinent information when it’s needed, according to a statement. “We await the response of the relevant authorities, who must take corrective measures to ensure safety for the development of air operations.”
The US State Department has issued a travel advisory for citizens traveling in Peru, which it has listed as a level three “reconsider travel” destination. The State Department is asking travelers in Peru to sign up for STEP alerts from the US Embassy if they haven’t yet.
“Demonstrations can cause the shutdown of local roads, trains, and major highways, often without prior notice or estimated reopening timelines. Road closures may significantly reduce access to public transportation and airports and may disrupt travel both within and between cities,” it warns.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Capt. James Mechelle: A student at a coffee shop in the midst of anti-government protests
Mechelle is holding onto hope that she’ll see her daughter home before Christmas, because she’s one of the hundreds of tourists who have been stuck in Peru.
Madison Spellman, a graduate student and travel nurse, was at a coffee shop when protesters took to the streets. Spellman told her mom that employees locked the doors and encouraged everyone to hunker down.
After protests broke out in the country after former President Pedro Castillo was ousted, Spellman and a friend stayed in the city of Cusco.
A family is expected to arrive from out of town next week. Spellman was supposed to fly to Ohio on Christmas Eve to join the rest of her loved ones.
There are people stuck in this town that is the main point of access to the site. Some people are starting to panic, as days pass with those still unable to leave.
The local economy is dependent on tourism and it is already suffering from food shortages because of the protests.
The captain of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue says that he is trying to remain level-headed and might attempt to leave the city in order to find another place to live.
The trek would be an 18-mile hike along the train tracks, which Vega says he’s heard many have completed successfully. His plan after that would be getting transportation to the airport.
Vega has been in contact with many back home, including his colleagues at the fire department, who he says are doing everything they can to bring him home.
The Bolivian Airlines Flights From Piscacucho: Coordination with the Department of State, the Municipality of Machu Picchu and the Embassy in Lima
The statement stated that they were coordinating with the Municipality of Machu Picchu to ensure proper boarding of people on the trains and prioritize care for the elderly and people with health conditions.
The people who were evacuated from the community of Piscacucho would be taken by bus to the city of Cuzco.
The evacuation effort is a collaborative between the mayor of Machu Picchu and the Ministries of Foreign Trade and Tourism, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Culture and the District Municipality of Machu Picchu.
The UK embassy in the Peruvian capital of Lima advised British nationals to register via the platform ” iPeru ” through their online form and with local authorities at the Cultural Center at Avenida Pachacutec.
The path of dialogue should be undertaken to overcome the political and social crisis that afflicts the population in order for them to have a peaceful life.