Photo: Associated Press

Photo: Reuters

Five days of heavy rain near Machu Picchu in Peru have caused tremendous mudslides and floods. Around two thousand travelers were stranded when mudslides blocked the railway to the city of Cuzco, which is the only way out of the area and helicopters were sent to help lift the tourists to safety. Five people were confirmed dead near the Incan ruins – one of Peru’s top tourist destinations – and a few others have been injured. The torrential rains have destroyed bridges, hundreds of houses and hundreds of acres of crops. The downpours have come to an end but light rain will be possible the rest of the week.