Wednesday, January 27, 2010

current situation in Cusco

Check out this brief video from BBC



Current situation: 1,400 tourists still stranded in Machu Picchu/Aguas Calientes

11 helicopters taking people from MP to Ollantaytambo, only 4 helicopters can run simultaniously due to geography.

Word is that people are paying up to $500 to be airlifted out first. Authorities deny this (we are not surprised)

The Ollant. stadium is now flooded, looking for new place for helicopters to land.

More than 600 tourists and 300 porters/guides are somewhere on the Inca Trail. Authorities are trying to locate them. The Inca Trail is a very difficult hike of 3/4 days, with difficult conditions and gets into altitudes of nearly 15,000 feet.

11 reported deaths at this time

Machu Picchu electric central has stopped working because two power lines have fallen down

10,000 affected residents and more than 2,000 collapsed houses

Click on these articles to read more...

Tourists wait for help, Cusco residents face their own drama

1,400 tourists still stranded in Machu Picchu, Urubamba valley endangered

Webpage to help locate tourists still stranded at the Inca Trail

2 comments:

holly darling smith said...

Wow. SO crazy and so desperately sad and scary! It's weird since I've been there and have a mental picture of the places, ect...! :( Keep us updated Tracie.

Love and miss you guys.

-h

holly darling smith said...
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