Peru: Rocks fall on vehicles, passengers stranded by intense rains and landslides

Heavy rains have battered Peru's Arequipa region for 48 hours, triggering significant landslides and rockfalls. The Panamericana Sur highway, a vital transport artery, has been severely impacted, particularly the Atico-Ocoña stretch in Camaná province.

One bus belonging to the Cruz del Sur company sustained damage in the La Planchada sector of Ocoña district, with rocks striking nearly half of the vehicle. Further along the route, in Quebrada Honda, Atico, passengers were left stranded on Monday, August 17. The Regional Emergency Operations Center (COER) in Arequipa reported disruptions across multiple districts, including Ocoña, Camaná, Caravelí, Chala, and Atico.

Provías Nacional, a national road authority, deployed heavy machinery, including a front-loader and a backhoe, to clear debris. While some stranded vehicles were able to move, the highway remains impassable. The COER has advised against travel in the affected area, specifically noting a closure between kilometers 721 and 733. Authorities have warned that Arequipa will remain on high alert, with intense rainfall expected until August 18 in several districts.

Regional Governor Rohel Sánchez stated that S/113 million is available for immediate interventions and that declaring emergency status for areas like Caravelí is unnecessary. He also confirmed the closure of traffic due to the risk of further rockfalls. Sánchez noted a lack of direct coordination with the president's office, communicating instead through a coordinator. Meanwhile, citizens in affected districts are reporting continuous rockfalls, with one resident in Secocha urgently warning families in vulnerable areas to evacuate their homes due to the imminent danger of falling rocks.