A person has died and more than 40 others have been injured after a head-on train crash at a world-famous landmark.
The rail crash near Peru's famous Machu Picchu claimed the life of a train driver - while more than half of the wounded are in a serious condition.
The head-on collision happened on Tuesday along the single railway track serving the ancient citadel.
Two trains travelling in opposite directions struck each other between Ollantaytambo Station to Aguas Calientes, the gateway town for visitors to the site - one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
Some 20 ambulances were dispatched to assist casualties on the tracks.
Those injured in the crash have been transported to hospitals in the nearby city of Cusco.
The US embassy in Peru confirmed that American citizens were among those hurt, though police have not yet released the identities of anyone involved.
Health officials told Reuters that at least 20 of the wounded are in a serious condition.
PICTURED: Emergency services carry a passenger away on a stretcher after the crash
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Evacuation efforts have proven difficult due to the challenging landscape surrounding the crash site.
According to local media outlet Peru21, "hundreds" of tourists are still stranded at the scene awaiting rescue.
The journey between the two stations typically takes approximately 90 minutes.
The trains involved were operated by two separate companies, PeruRail and Inca Rail.
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The head-on collision happened on Tuesday along the single railway track serving the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu (pictured)
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PeruRail said in a statement it "deeply regrets what has happened".
The company added that its staff had "immediately" provided first aid to the train driver, the train conductor and the passengers involved in the incident.
But investigators have not yet determined what caused the collision.
The accident comes amid an ongoing dispute over transport services to the Unesco World Heritage Site, with local communities criticising what they consider an insufficiently open bidding process.
In September, Britons were issued a travel warning after protesters blocked a rail track near Machu Picchu with rocks
| GETTYTransport to the 15th-century Inca citadel commands premium prices due to its remote location.
A few months ago, Britons were warned by the UK Foreign Office of demonstrations and road blockades in Peru - specifically leaving rail services to Machu Picchu cancelled.
In September, at least 900 tourists were left stranded near the landmark after a train service was suspended, while protesters blocked the route with rocks.