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Peru mudslide kills tourist, guide; leaves thousand stranded

27 January 2010 04:08 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Ziya Agazade â€“ APA. A mudslide on the famed Inca trail to Machu Picchu killed an Argentine tourist and a Peruvian guide Tuesday, as authorities evacuated dozens of tourists by helicopter from a flood zone where nearly 2,000 more were still stranded, APA reports quoting â€œAssociated Pressâ€.

Cuzco government spokesman Hernet Moscoso said the Argentine, identified as Lucia Ramallo, 23, and the guide, Washington Huaraya, were in their tents when a slope gave way and their tents were crushed. Three other tourists were injured.

The deaths raised to five the number of people killed by heavy rains that have caused floods and landslides and collapsed homes, Moscoso said.

In Washington, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said about 400 American citizens were believed to be stranded.

The rainy season in Peru’s southern highlands is expected to last through March.
Cuzco Gov. Hugo Gonzales estimated crop losses and damage to infrastructure, homes and schools could total $172 million in his province alone.