Four tourists died and 16 were injured in a bus accident in Peru after visiting the citadel of Machu Picchu, Peruvian authorities announced on Monday.
The coach crashed into “a ravine more than 100 meters deep,” Minister of Labour and Tourism Roberto Sanchez said. He added that there was fog at the scene of the accident
Three of the deceased tourists are Colombians, while the fourth is Peruvian, the ministry said in a statement. The injured include four French nationals, two Greeks, two Canadians, two Israelis, two Argentinians, a Dutchman, a Spaniard and two Peruvians, including the driver.
The accident occurred on the night of Sunday to Monday about 100 kms from the city of Cuzco, the ancient Inca capital and the main starting point for tour operators organising visits to Machu Picchu.
Some of the injured were to be transferred to Lima on a plane chartered by the Air Force, Sanchez said.
Peru’s foreign ministry extended its condolences “to the families and governments of the foreign tourists who have sadly passed away,” it said on Twitter.
Road accidents are frequent in Peru, due in particular to the state of the road network, excessive speed or lack of signage. Three weeks ago, 16 people died when their coach crashed into a ravine in central Junin province.
Each day, an average 5,000 tourists visit Machu Picchu, built in the 15th century by Inca emperor Pachacutec. The citadel is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the wonders of the world.
