A fire burning near the main access road to Peru’s Machu Picchu kills one person and injures two others, Peruvian officials say. The blaze breaks out Friday in the Sacred Valley in the Cusco region and is still active Saturday, according to reports.
Officials say the older man who died suffered fatal injuries in the fire, while two others receive burns. Miguel Osco of the regional disaster management agency tells RPP radio that the fire is close to Machu Picchu and that tourism buses pass nearby. He adds that hot, windy conditions and dry vegetation help the flames spread quickly.
Reporting also points to likely cause: Osco says the fire starts when farmers burn brush to clear land for crops. Deutsche Welle and the other outlets describe the same casualty toll and location near the principal access route, while focusing differently on the proximity to Machu Picchu and the possible ignition source.
