A fire burning near the main access road to the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru has killed one person and left two others injured, officials confirmed.
The blaze began on Friday in the Sacred Valley of the Cusco region, an area that includes the Ollantaytambo train station, the busiest hub for travelers visiting Machu Picchu.
Miguel Osco, head of the Cusco Regional Office for Disaster Management and Safety, confirmed the fatality in a statement to RPP radio.
“We have one elderly person who died in the flames and two others with second-degree burns,” Osco told the station.
Osco said the fire originated from controlled bush burning, a practice farmers in the region commonly use to clear land for crops.
Hot, windy weather conditions and dry vegetation caused the flames to spread rapidly beyond their intended boundaries, he added.
The Sacred Valley, where the fire broke out, forms a critical corridor for the millions of tourists who travel through the Cusco region each year to reach Machu Picchu.
The Incas constructed Machu Picchu during the 15th century, situating the citadel at an altitude of 2,500 meters in the Andes Mountains.
The historic sanctuary is widely regarded as an architectural masterpiece and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Machu Picchu draws approximately three million visitors annually, making it Peru’s most visited and recognized tourist destination.
Fires in and around protected heritage zones raise significant concerns for both conservation authorities and the tourism industry that depends on safe access routes.
Authorities have not yet indicated whether the fire posed any direct threat to the citadel itself or whether access to the site was disrupted during the incident.
