Peru Sets Up Air and Sea Bridges to Rescue Hundreds Stranded by Landslides

The Peruvian government has initiated air and sea rescue operations to aid hundreds of people trapped by landslides on a coastal highway in the southern region of Arequipa. Defense Minister Rafael Belaúnde announced that three helicopters are actively evacuating individuals from the affected route, which runs along a mountainside facing the Pacific Ocean. Two Navy patrol boats have also been dispatched to support maritime rescue efforts.

Helicopter operations have been contingent on improving weather conditions. The evacuation is currently focused on transporting about 80 people per hour from the area between Atico and Ocoña, prioritizing the most vulnerable. Rescued individuals are then taken by military buses to Camaná and Chala, where they can access public transportation.

“

We are evacuating about 80 people per hour, which will allow us to evacuate, especially the most vulnerable.

The most critical point of the emergency is at Quebrada Honda, where dozens of trucks are stranded, obstructing other vehicles, including passenger buses. "The landslide was very strong, and they got stuck, stranded," Belaúnde stated. Approximately 269 members of the Army's Third Military Region rapid intervention company are on site, with an additional 60 personnel expected to join. The blocked section of the road is currently concentrated in a one-kilometer area, where light rain continues to fall, causing more material to dislodge from the hillside.

Despite the ongoing challenges, authorities are optimistic about fully reopening the road by Saturday. Military trucks have already begun entering the area to pick up stranded individuals who do not require air evacuation. The minister also noted the road's poor design, with a narrow, steep path, highlighting the need for an alternate route and more military helicopters to handle emergencies, especially with the gradual impact of El Niño.

“

The landslide was very strong, and they got stuck, stranded.