Fire near Machu Picchu under control, Peru says

Lima, Agency
A forest fire that broke out last weekend inside the Machu Picchu environmental reserve about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the famous Inca citadel has been brought under control, Peruvian authorities said Wednesday.

The fire charred 162 hectares (400 acres) of forest and cropland, officials said.

Firefighters remain at the scene in case the winds should pick up and revive the blaze, the environment ministry said.

The fire, which started Sunday in a remote spot along the railway between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, did not have a major impact on tourists traveling to the citadel, as rail service had already been curtailed amid a general strike in the Cuzco region.