Posts Tagged ‘Peru’

Mudslides in Machu Picchu

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 by Moira Bishop

The heaviest rains to hit Peru in the past fifteen years have caused mudslides with serious consequences today — 4 people have been killed and 2,000 tourists have been stranded in and around Machu Picchu.

Reports from our contacts at Pardo Medical Center based in Cusco, Peru indicate that the heavy rain is not letting up and that is causing problems for transportation.  The trains are not running and the Cusco airport is closed until at least tomorrow, so the only way out is by helicopter.  The clinics are open for anyone who can get to them. 

Like many natural disasters, mudslides cannot be predicted.  If you are visiting or planning to visit a mountainous — or even just hilly — region that has recently experienced heavy rainfall or snowmelt, you may want to reconsider your plans.  

Ideally, you will never be in the path of a mudslide, but just in case, it’s a good idea to note these instructions from the Red Cross:

  • Quickly move out of the path of the mudslide or debris flow.  Moving away from the path of the flow to a stable area will reduce your risk.
  • If escape is not possible, curl into a tight ball and protect your head.  A tight ball will provide the best protection for your body.

Though you don’t want to spend time dwelling on worst case scenarios while preparing for vacation, a few minutes of planning can prove to be invaluable.

Photo info: http://www.flickr.com/photos/comprock/ / CC BY-SA 2.0
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Walking Into Trouble: Pedestrians in Peru (and Other Places)

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 by Emily Moran

Worldwide, 46% of all highway fatalities are “vulnerable road users”-pedestrians, cyclists and people on two-wheeled motor vehicles, according to the recent WHO report on road safety.  But we’ve run some numbers and found that in Peru, for instance, pedestrians alone account for 78% of all highway deaths. In the U.S. and India that figure is 12%.

Travelers typically explore their new surroundings on foot, so we think it’s worth investigating where pedestrians run (or should I say walk into?) the highest risks. The chart below shows the countries where pedestrians make up the highest proportion of road deaths.

Look Both Ways - Pedestrians as % of Total Deaths

Look Both Ways - Pedestrians as % of Total Deaths

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Joining Peru in the “top twenty” are countries as diverse as Mozambique, El Salvador and the Ukraine. When paired with similar countries, large disparities in risk appear. For instance, Peru (78%) and Ecuador (43%) are Andean neighbors; Mozambique (68%) and Kenya (47%) are East African cousins; El Salvador (63%) and Panama (46%) are Central American siblings, and the Ukraine (56%) and Belarus (40%) are almost Eastern European twins. Why the spread? We’re not sure, but it’s well worth noting.

Even if you’re not traveling to one of these high risk countries, it’s a good bet your pedestrian experience will be very different when you’re abroad, particularly if you’re exploring big cities. Traffic patterns may be novel, sidewalks may be limited, and stoplights or crosswalks are often inadequate or non-existent. Check out these videos of people crossing the street in Vietnam (no death rate data available!): this one has a nice view of traffic pattern, and this one shows the perils even on a crosswalk!

So, wherever you’re walking (and running these risks), here are a few tips:

  • Walk where cars can see you-not behind signs or bushes.
  • Wear visible clothing-resist the urge to wear black at night.
  • Look both ways! If cars drive on the right (like in the U.S.), look left first, then right, then left again before starting to cross. If cars drive on the left, look right, then left, then right again.
  • Face traffic when you are walking on the roads (especially on the more narrow ones) so that you can see approaching vehicles.
  • Assume the motor vehicle always has the right of way.

If you have any tip or experiences that you’d like to share, please do! 

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