Peruvian authorities are set to evacuate close to 2,000 tourists who are stuck near the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, in the region of Cusco, after heavy rain blocked the railway, according to dpa. Peruvian Tourism Minister Martin Perez said the authorities planned to evacuate the people affected to the village of Ollantaytambo, from where they could proceed to the city of Cusco, the capital of the Andean region of the same name. Heavy rain appeared to be threatening the ancient Machu Picchu. "The Vilcanota river, 15 kilometres from Machu Picchu, flowed over its banks, and there have been four or five collapses of structures in this Cultural Heritage (asset)," said Cusco Mayor Luis Flores. Heavy rain in recent days also caused the Aramayo and Huatanay Rivers to flood their banks, destroying crops and homes across Cusco, in Peru's southern Andes. Bus services linking Cusco to other regions have been cancelled, and at least eight domestic flights were unable to land at Cusco airport. Regional authorities were particularly concerned about Machu Picchu because, beyond its historical and archaeological value, the citadel is Peru's main tourist destination and as such a major source of income.
