The last New Zealanders stranded by flooding in the remote Peruvian village of Machu Picchu have been evacuated to safety overnight.
The seven were airlifted to Cusco in southeast Peru, joining the 14 other New Zealanders already rescued from the flood-ravaged tourist region.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(MFAT) spokeswoman told NZPA all the tourists were safe and well.
A total of 3900 tourists and local people were flown out of the tiny mountain village this week after mudslides and torrential rains on Sunday destroyed sections of the railway that is the only form of transit in and out of the village below the famed Inca citadel.
The remaining 1277 travellers were evacuated yesterday as authorities raced to complete the job against darkening skies, police Colonel Santiago Vizcarra told The Associated Press.
Although the evacuation operation was over, rail operator Perurail said it would take months for workers to repair the railway that leads to the famed ruins.
Road repairs could also take months.
The hordes of trapped tourist strained food and water supplies in the town of 4000 people.
Hotels overflowed, and travellers grew frustrated over chaotic relief efforts, price-gouging and scarce food. Many were left to eat from communal pots and bed down in train cars, outdoors and wherever they could find space.
Authorities closed the Inca trail, a popular four-day trek that ends in Machu Picchu, after a mudslide killed two people on Tuesday.
- NZPA
