A video released by police in Peru showed several people being rescued from a bus after it became trapped in the rushing waters of the Chicama River.
LIMA, Peru – Several people were rescued from a bus that became stuck in the powerful currents of the Chicama River in northern Peru, authorities reported.
Video released by the country’s national police showed the daring rescue that took place after heavy rainfall impacted much of the region.
First responders attached rescue lines to the bus in order to guide passengers to safety, all of whom made it to the shoreline unharmed.
Police did not say why the bus attempted to cross the swift-moving current, which led to this particularly dangerous situation.
The incident unfolded after Peru faced widespread rainfall, with meteorological authorities issuing red alerts for 18 regions across the country.
The alerts warned residents to be prepared for potential landslides, flash floods and road blockages, especially in areas where the ground was already saturated.
The Chicama Valley is located in northern Peru and is an agricultural stronghold, with sugarcane being a top commodity.
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“Police from the Yurayacu police station were mobilized to assist families affected by flooding caused by heavy rains. They helped in the transfer of people and goods,” first responders posted on social media.
(@PoliciaPeru / FOX Weather)
Several hundred miles east, police reported helping families in the San Martín region deal with the torrential rainfall.
“Police from the Yurayacu police station were mobilized to assist families affected by flooding caused by heavy rains. They helped in the transfer of people and goods,” first responders posted on social media.
First responders even attended to pets, who were ultimately taken to the local police station and given food and care.
According to tourism officials in Peru, the country of approximately 34 million people experiences its rainy season from December through March, coinciding with the summer months.
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During flash flooding in South America, police risked their lives to save four people and a sheep trapped in a motorbike taxi in Peru. Authorities reported that all the occupants safely rescued.
In January, the U.S. embassy in Lima announced that a state of emergency had been issued for 20 regions of the country and warned visitors that travel to the region may be affected through March.
“Individuals living in or traveling through areas prone to flooding are urged to take preventive actions, stay away from streams and rivers, reconsider crossing through standing bodies of water of unknown depth, and be attentive to the recommendations of local authorities. Travelers should take into account this increased danger in making their plans,” the embassy warned travelers.
Additionally, authorities warned that parts of the famed Inca Trail, a hiking path that leads to Machu Picchu, were closed because of the extreme weather.
Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and consists of the remains of a village built by the Incas around the 15th century.
Picture taken on June 15, 2020 showing an empty Machu Picchu, the 15th century Inca citadel located at 2,430 metres in the Andes mountain range, 80 km from Cusco in southern Peru, which has been closed to tourism since March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Peru, considered as one of America’s and the world’s leading tourism destinations, closed down its borders on March 16, 2020 seeking to curve the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The halt of the tourism industry caused many to loose their jobs and has led to the slow deterioration of some of the well known tourist sites.
(Photo by PERCY HURTADO/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)