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 noted that 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 stated it was supporting a number of British nationals involved in the crash, while the US embassy in Peru mentioned that US citizens were among the injured.
After the collision, medical assistance arrived, and Mr. Honkoop and his tour group were taken to a nearby village for food, care, and accommodation.
The crash occurred on the track linking Ollantaytambo Station and Aguas Calientes, the closest town to Machu Picchu. The regular journey takes about 90 minutes.
The trains involved were operated by PeruRail and Inca Rail.
PeruRail expressed regret over the incident, affirming that its staff provided immediate first aid. Meanwhile, the cause of the crash remains unclear, with an ongoing dispute regarding transport providers to the UNESCO heritage site.
Machu Picchu, built in the Peruvian Andes in the 15th Century, is one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World and has become a highly lucrative destination due to its limited access.
