Article author:
Reuters
Lima — Peruvian firefighters were fighting to contain a wildfire on Thursday near the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, as the fire threatened to approach the high ancient cities of the Andes.
The fire, which swallowed about half the area of the Vatican City, began on Tuesday as farmers prepared to burn grass and debris to sow new crops.
As of Wednesday, about 20 hectares (49 acres) had been affected by the fire, a nearby mayor of Cusco said.
Machu Picchu is a complex of stone structures on the top of a mountain, built by the Inca Empire over 500 years ago. The Inca Empire dominated a large area of South America, from what is now southern Ecuador to central Chile.
The remoteness of the fire is hampering the efforts of firefighters.
"We have been fighting wildfires for two days already, but we couldn't manage them because we don't have access to the area," said Cusco's Director of Risk Management and Security. Roberto Abarka says. office.
The breathtaking archaeological site that made the surrounding Cusco region one of Peru's top tourist destinations is considered one of the seven new wonders of the world. (Report by Carlos Valdez and Marco Aquino, Written by Brendan O'Boyle, Edited by Sandra Maler)
