Three Colombian tourists lost their lives. The fourth fatality was of Peruvian nationality, the local government of the Cuzco region said. In addition to four Frenchmen, the injured included two Argentinians, two Canadians, two Greeks, two Israelis, two Peruvians and a Spaniard. Two Dutch people who were also in the minibus are unharmed, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.
The minibus plunged into a ravine more than 100 meters deep on Sunday evening, said Peruvian Tourism and Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Sanchez. It would have been foggy at the accident site. Some of the injured have been airlifted by the air force to the capital Lima, said Minister Sanchez.
The accident happened about 100 kilometers from the city of Cuzco, the former capital of the Inca Empire and the main departure point for many visitors to Machu Picchu. Every day, an average of about 5,000 tourists visit the attraction, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and wonder of the world. The city was built in the 15th century by the Inca emperor Pachacutec.
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