Peru floods, landslides

In Peru, heavy rains in late January caused flooding of the Urubamba River and massive destruction in the Sacred Valley, sweeping away bridges and roads that will take months to repair.

Up to 40 landslides were triggered in the Cuzco and Machu Picchu areas, blocking the only railway connection between the ruins and Cuzco. Nearly 2,000 tourists and residents were stranded in Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) with limited supplies. The Peruvian government declared a 60-day state of emergency on Jan. 25, and military helicopters began airlifting those stranded.

A mudslide on the Inca Trail killed an Argentine tourist and her Peruvian guide, bringing the number killed during the rains to five. The trail, which is closed annually in February, was closed early as a precaution.