Seven Canadians are among dozens injured after two trains collided head-on in Peru on Tuesday, Global Affairs Canada confirmed.
The collision took place on the railway leading to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A train driver was killed and 40 more people were injured in the collision between trains operated by Inca Rail S.A. and PeruRail S.A., which mainly deliver tourists to the historic site.
A health official told Reuters that about 20 people were in relatively serious condition.
Foreign tourists, including the Canadians, are among the injured.
“Global Affairs Canada is aware of Canadian citizens injured in Peru. Our deepest sympathies go out to everyone affected by the accident,” Global Affairs said in an email to CBC News earlier Wednesday.
“Canadian officials are providing consular assistance and are in contact with local authorities. Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed.”
‘Canada stands by the people of Peru’: Anand
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said she was “deeply saddened to hear” about the crash.
“Global Affairs officials are providing consular assistance to those impacted and are in close contact with local authorities. Canada stands by the people of Peru and extend our sympathies to all those affected,” Anand wrote on X.
Police are now investigating the collision.
Images posted on social media shortly after the crash showed the badly damaged locomotives facing each other on the track, broken glass strewn around and injured people being treated on the sides of the tracks.
Machu Picchu, located in the Peruvian Andes, is the country’s most popular destination for travellers, drawing more than one million tourists from around the world each year.
