A head-on train collision near Machu Picchu has left one train driver dead and at least 40 people injured, including foreign tourists, according to Peruvian authorities. The crash occurred Tuesday on the single-track rail line connecting Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, the main gateway to the world-famous Inca site.

Local officials said 20 ambulances were dispatched, with the injured transferred to hospitals in Cusco. Health authorities reported that at least 20 victims are in serious condition, while hundreds of tourists remained stranded at the crash site awaiting evacuation due to difficult mountainous terrain.

The two trains involved were operated by PeruRail and Inca Rail. PeruRail said its staff immediately provided first aid to passengers and crew, expressing deep regret over the incident. The cause of the collision has not yet been disclosed.

The U.S. Embassy confirmed that American citizens were injured, and the U.K. Foreign Office said it is supporting British nationals affected by the crash.

The incident comes amid broader tensions around transport access to Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World. With limited access routes and high demand, transport to the site is both tightly controlled and highly lucrative. While daily visitor caps were introduced in 2011 to curb overtourism, safety and infrastructure concerns remain as millions continue to travel to the iconic Andean destination each year.