A fire broke out Friday in the Sacred Valley of Peru’s Cusco region, close to the primary road leading to the ancient Inca site of Machu Picchu. The blaze resulted in one elderly person’s death and injured two others with second-degree burns, officials reported on Saturday.
The fire rapidly spread due to hot, windy weather and dry vegetation, compounding its impact on the popular tourist area. Miguel Osco, head of the Cusco Regional Office for Disaster Management and Safety, said the fire was triggered by farmers conducting controlled bush burning to clear land for crops.
Casualties and Impact
Authorities confirmed that one elderly individual succumbed to the flames while two others suffered injuries severe enough to be classified as second-degree burns. The incident occurred near the Ollantaytambo train station, a key transit point for visitors traveling to Machu Picchu.
Context of the Site
Machu Picchu, located about 2,500 meters above sea level in the Andes Mountains, is a 15th-century Inca citadel and is recognized worldwide as an architectural masterpiece. It attracts roughly three million visitors annually and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The surrounding Sacred Valley region is not only a cultural landmark but also an agricultural hub, where the use of controlled burning is a common farming practice.
