Chaos Erupts After Machu Picchu Train Collision

Wed Dec 31 2025 19:59:44 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A head-on train crash near Machu Picchu leaves one dead and numerous passengers injured, prompting eyewitness accounts of the turbulent aftermath.

A severe collision between two trains near Machu Picchu has resulted in one death and at least 40 injuries. Eyewitness Niels Honkoop described a scene of chaos, as passengers rushed to assist the wounded amidst broken glass and severe injuries. The incident occurred on a popular tourist route, and investigations are underway to determine the cause while concerns over local transport disputes continue.

A passenger has described chaos after two trains collided head-on near Peru's most popular tourist attraction, Machu Picchu.

Niels Honkoop, 33, told the BBC he had switched seats part-way through the journey from the middle of the train to the back, before it crashed, injuring many of those sitting near the front.

I saw staff running around and people crying and people on the floor and chaos erupted, he said. We got off the train and I saw people bleeding with very severe injuries.

A train driver was killed and at least 40 others were injured in the crash, which took place at around 13:20 local time (18:20 GMT) on Tuesday.

Mr. Honkoop said the table in front of him broke in two. Shattered glass littered the floor of the carriage, and many were lying wounded in the aisle. One woman he saw was trapped between a bench and a table.

He tried to assist by moving luggage and handing out painkillers, as, by coincidence, I'd had a wisdom tooth removed recently so I had lots of painkillers on me.

The UK Foreign Office said it was supporting a number of British nationals involved in the crash. Additionally, the US embassy confirmed that US citizens were among the injured.

After the crash, Mr. Honkoop said another train arrived with medical assistance. He and his tour group were taken to a nearby village where they were given food and medical care and taken to a hotel.

The collision occurred on the track linking Ollantaytambo Station and Aguas Calientes, the closest town to Machu Picchu. The two trains involved in the accident were operated by PeruRail and Inca Rail respectively.

PeruRail expressed regret over the incident, noting that staff had immediately provided first aid to those involved. The cause of the accident remains unclear amid disputes over transport provisions to the UNESCO site.

Machu Picchu, built in the Peruvian Andes in the 15th Century, is one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World. Efforts to manage its tourist influx continue as over-tourism concerns linger.