Peru issues heat wave warning for Ayacucho and glacier instability alert for Ancash

The National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology (SENAMHI) warned that daytime temperatures will rise and ultraviolet radiation will be high across five provinces in the Ayacucho region—Cangallo, Víctor Fajardo, Huanca Sancos, Sucre and Lucanas—from July 4 to July 6. The event is expected to be of moderate to strong intensity with clear skies at noon, wind gusts near 30 km/h in the afternoons, and a heightened risk of heat‑related health effects. Authorities advised the public to limit midday sun exposure, use sunscreen, wear light clothing and stay hydrated.

In the Ancash region, the president of the Peruvian Association of Mountain Guides, Beto Pinto Toledo, warned that large ice blocks (seracs) on the Alpamayo glacier remain unstable after a recent avalanche that collapsed a block of ice near Camp 1. He said, "Los seracs en la parte superior continúan inestables y representan un peligro real e inminente para quienes transiten por la zona." No casualties were reported, but the risk to climbers and guides is high. Pinto linked the instability to accelerated glacier retreat caused by climate change and called for careful route planning, professional guiding, and improved high‑altitude rescue capabilities.