Panamericana Sur: Woman dies walking through landslide debris in Peru

A 68-year-old woman, identified as María Jesús Rocha Parcona, died on the Panamericana Sur highway in the Atico district of Caravelí, Peru. The death occurred while she was walking through mud and debris caused by landslides (huaicos) that blocked the road at kilometer 730.

Rocha Parcona, who was reportedly in delicate health, was traveling north with her family when the road blockage forced them to walk toward Atico. During the trek, she became unwell and collapsed in the mud. The emergency has left hundreds of passengers stranded; some have been stuck for over 24 hours and have resorted to walking for several hours due to a lack of food and basic services.

Congressman Christian Aranda has requested that the Ministry of Defense provide helicopter support from the La Joya airbase to evacuate stranded individuals and transport water, food, and medicine. Defense Minister Rafael Belaúnde has been deployed to Arequipa to lead response efforts following the DANA Aníbal atmospheric phenomenon, which has triggered heavy rains and meteorological events in the region.