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Peru flooding: Your stories Peru flooding: Your stories
(1 day later)
Flooding in Peru. Picture: Judith DanielloFlooding in Peru. Picture: Judith Daniello
Up to 3,000 homes have been destroyed following heavy rains in Peru.Up to 3,000 homes have been destroyed following heavy rains in Peru.
The Peruvian authorities have airlifted some people to safety but many people are still waiting. Flood water has closed roads and railway lines.The Peruvian authorities have airlifted some people to safety but many people are still waiting. Flood water has closed roads and railway lines.
Hundreds of tourists visiting the Inca site of Machu Picchu have been left stranded. Some of them have been telling the BBC News website about their ordeal. Hundreds of tourists visiting the Inca site of Machu Picchu and locals have been left stranded. Some of them have been telling the BBC News website about their ordeal.
PENNY HALE, PERU ALCIDES JORDAN, OROPESA, PERU Some of the boys at the Azul Wasi home. Picture: Alcides Jordan
I am still in Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of the climb to Machu Picchu. I have spent the whole day in a frightening queue of increasingly angry people. Supposedly I am going to be prioritised because I am retired and travelling alone. However priority is actually being given to mothers and children. I run an orphanage for street children in Oropesa which is in the Sacred Valley. We are struggling to keep our home from falling into the flood waters.
The train should never have brought us here. It was terribly dangerous with the river absolutely roaring When the rains came, some of the children got scared. I tried to calm them down and make them feel safe but it was frightening. Houses around us have been destroyed and the families who lived in them are now in tents. Some are living in the local school.
I have moved the younger children into my own house which is in Cusco and I'm trying to get rooms sorted for the older boys. Until I can evacuate them, they are living in makeshift tents.
Makeshift homes for the staff and boys at Azul Wasi. Picture: Alcides Jordan
We are struggling to save the house and the greenhouse which we rely on for our food. We also keep chickens and guinea pigs so we need to make sure they are safe. We are now putting sand bags around the house and have been digging a trench.
The weather forecast is for more rain. I don't know how we will keep going.
CHRIS FETTIN, AGUAS CALIENTES, PERU Stranded people wait for news. Picture: John Walker and David Sayer
I am in Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of the climb to Machu Picchu.
The town is still full of people and more and more shops are boarded up as their food supplies run out. Hotels and hostels are full, and every train car in the station has been turned into a makeshift dormitory.
Electricity was out all morning. And mobile phone service is intermittent.
Makeshift kitchens are being set up in a central part of town and I have seen food start to be served to long lines of people. I have very limited cash and the ATMs are empty. Our hostel only takes cash so I am really trying to stretch every dollar because I have heard conditions are terrible in public areas.
Heavy fog and rain has made flying impossible. It could be many more days before everyone is out
I am noticing that prices at bodegas and restaurants are starting to rise. On the other hand, many local Peruvians have come out to the plaza with free popcorn, coffee and bread. I have seen some tourists begin to help with emergency operations and food preparation.
Anyway, now it seems American citizens are included in a master priority list that has been created by local government. Last I heard there were over 3,000 people on this list. Evacuations will happen according to age, oldest to youngest, with several nations helping to aid in the evacuation.
Weather is not co-operating at all today. Heavy fog and rain has made flying impossible. It could be many more days before everyone is out. One local man told me they were instructed that they should expect to be away from Aguas Calientes for over 70 days. Hiking out does not seem to be an option, and reports are coming in of many deaths throughout the sacred valley.
I am trying to keep spirits high. I only have with me a small daypack because this was supposed to be only an overnight trip. My big pack is back in Cusco in storage at a hostel.
CALLINA GREENSLADE, CUSCO, PERU Callina took this picture from the bus window on her way to Cusco
I'm stuck in Cusco. I'm from Australia and am travelling around South America with my boyfriend and my brother.
We had booked a trip to Machu Picchu so we got on a local bus to get to Cusco ready to start the trip. The journey should have taken five hours. It took 10. On the way here it was raining hard. The water was at the top of the wheels.
From the bus, I could see mud brick houses collapsing into the flood waters. The fields with vital crops are now submerged.
The roads are built up so the bus made it through but it was heart-wrenching to see so many homes falling apart.
Every day we hear helicopters flying overhead. They are airlifting 200 people a day to safety. I'm going to stay in Cusco. My brother is due to fly back to Australia on Saturday and I need to know he will be OK.
PENNY HALE, AGUAS CALIENTES, PERU Flooding in the Sacred Valley. Picture: Alcides Jordan
I am still in Aguas Calientes. I have spent the whole day in a frightening queue of increasingly angry people. Supposedly I am going to be prioritised because I am retired and travelling alone. However priority is actually being given to mothers and children.
I have no real expectation that tomorrow will be better organised. The word soon went round this village that nobody was checking documents and so a whole lot of locals got a helicopter ride and those of us who were supposed to go, including some with medical problems, are still here.I have no real expectation that tomorrow will be better organised. The word soon went round this village that nobody was checking documents and so a whole lot of locals got a helicopter ride and those of us who were supposed to go, including some with medical problems, are still here.
Walking out and going out by rail from Aguas Calientes are now both impossible and too dangerous. The flood water is waist deep.Walking out and going out by rail from Aguas Calientes are now both impossible and too dangerous. The flood water is waist deep.
The train should never have brought us here. It was terribly dangerous with the river absolutely roaring. It is a river such as I have never seen before. It is like a really dangerous sea with waves up to eight feet high. The river was feet away from the train.The train should never have brought us here. It was terribly dangerous with the river absolutely roaring. It is a river such as I have never seen before. It is like a really dangerous sea with waves up to eight feet high. The river was feet away from the train.
I do have a room and a kind landlord who kept it for me. The cash point has run out of money!I do have a room and a kind landlord who kept it for me. The cash point has run out of money!
WILL COLLETT, PERU WILL COLLETT, MACHU PICCHU, PERU
We are currently in Machu Picchu. We are stranded with all the other tourists. Many guides have left their groups and so there is some confusion amongst tourists. Everyone has put their names down on lists for evacuation and there is a priority system in place.We are currently in Machu Picchu. We are stranded with all the other tourists. Many guides have left their groups and so there is some confusion amongst tourists. Everyone has put their names down on lists for evacuation and there is a priority system in place.
Tensions are rising at the train station making it difficult for people to get throughTensions are rising at the train station making it difficult for people to get through
Wednesday afternoon there was an announcement from a group of representatives of the different nationalities. They have decided that evacuation will be based on age alone. They have also made available the school for people to sleep in. There is also going to be free healthcare, food and water. All the hostels will have fixed prices so that the owners cannot inflate them.Wednesday afternoon there was an announcement from a group of representatives of the different nationalities. They have decided that evacuation will be based on age alone. They have also made available the school for people to sleep in. There is also going to be free healthcare, food and water. All the hostels will have fixed prices so that the owners cannot inflate them.
In general the tourists are in good spirits, however, tensions are rising at the train station making it difficult for people to get through. Many people have expressed a desire to walk to a nearby town which is eight hours away. However, guides who have made it through have expressed concern at the difficulty of such a task.In general the tourists are in good spirits, however, tensions are rising at the train station making it difficult for people to get through. Many people have expressed a desire to walk to a nearby town which is eight hours away. However, guides who have made it through have expressed concern at the difficulty of such a task.
DANNI KIRWAN, PERU DANNI KIRWAN, AGUAS CALIENTES, PERU
As a Brit stuck in Aguas Calientes, I can say that the Peruvian authorities have been doing a reasonable job of looking after us.As a Brit stuck in Aguas Calientes, I can say that the Peruvian authorities have been doing a reasonable job of looking after us.
The tourists are organising themselves into shifts of volunteers to help with distribution of supplies and medical aidThe tourists are organising themselves into shifts of volunteers to help with distribution of supplies and medical aid
We have been given shelter, albeit not ideal. The tents put up in the square have not endured the rain very well but the town hall and school have also been habilitated. Water and some food have been handed out. There are concerns that supplies will run out but fortunately the weather conditions now are such that helicopters are able to come in and are taking out the most vulnerable first.We have been given shelter, albeit not ideal. The tents put up in the square have not endured the rain very well but the town hall and school have also been habilitated. Water and some food have been handed out. There are concerns that supplies will run out but fortunately the weather conditions now are such that helicopters are able to come in and are taking out the most vulnerable first.
It will simply be a matter of waiting for the helicopters to shuttle the large numbers of people here to the nearest town from where buses are running. There are no safety concerns in the town itself and the tourists are organising themselves into shifts of volunteers to help with distribution of supplies and medical aid.It will simply be a matter of waiting for the helicopters to shuttle the large numbers of people here to the nearest town from where buses are running. There are no safety concerns in the town itself and the tourists are organising themselves into shifts of volunteers to help with distribution of supplies and medical aid.
LIZ SHEASBY, PERULIZ SHEASBY, PERU
I'm here with a friend. We've been stuck since Sunday when the trains stopped. We've not seen 10 helicopters, possibly just three or four today. Supposedly there is a priority list: Over sixty-year-olds, women with children then everyone else.I'm here with a friend. We've been stuck since Sunday when the trains stopped. We've not seen 10 helicopters, possibly just three or four today. Supposedly there is a priority list: Over sixty-year-olds, women with children then everyone else.
Of the four over sixty-year-olds that we knew of, only one has been taken out. The other three had to wait all day in the heat only to be turned away when the helicopters stopped running.Of the four over sixty-year-olds that we knew of, only one has been taken out. The other three had to wait all day in the heat only to be turned away when the helicopters stopped running.
In some shops prices for water and food are rising rapidly although there are some areas of human kindness. One restaurant is offering free food and a few hostel owners are offering reduced rates rather than the inflated rates of many others.In some shops prices for water and food are rising rapidly although there are some areas of human kindness. One restaurant is offering free food and a few hostel owners are offering reduced rates rather than the inflated rates of many others.
We're just hoping to get out in the next few days.We're just hoping to get out in the next few days.
ROSS, LONDON The view from Ross' parents' hotel room. Picture: Judith DanielloROSS, LONDON The view from Ross' parents' hotel room. Picture: Judith Daniello
My parents are currently in the village seemingly most affected by this and they are waiting to be airlifted. So far we have been in touch via text message and the landline but they've been separated from their luggage and cannot charge their phones.My parents are currently in the village seemingly most affected by this and they are waiting to be airlifted. So far we have been in touch via text message and the landline but they've been separated from their luggage and cannot charge their phones.
They've said it was pretty terrifying and that they had to run several times to escape the floods.They've said it was pretty terrifying and that they had to run several times to escape the floods.
They've been put up in a hotel. They are on rations to ensure fresh water and food last. The local staff have apparently been amazing despite being in a very uncertain position themselves. Hopefully they will be airlifted today but they suspect it may be a few days.They've been put up in a hotel. They are on rations to ensure fresh water and food last. The local staff have apparently been amazing despite being in a very uncertain position themselves. Hopefully they will be airlifted today but they suspect it may be a few days.


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