The rescue operation, which concluded late Friday, involved teams from the Peruvian National Police, the army, and local civil defense units. Using helicopters and heavy machinery, they were able to clear debris and reach stranded vehicles along the highway, a vital economic artery connecting the capital, Lima, to the mining and agricultural regions of the central highlands.
A video released by the Peruvian government shows rescue workers helping exhausted and dehydrated survivors onto military helicopters. Many of the trapped individuals had been without food or clean water since the initial landslide struck on Monday, August 17. The Ministry of Transport reported that more than 200 vehicles and several hundred people were initially affected, though the exact number of those rescued has not been finalized.
"The priority was to ensure the safety of all citizens," said Interior Minister Vicente Romero in a press conference. "We deployed all available resources to reach those in need, despite the challenging terrain and continued instability of the slopes."
The landslides occurred after days of unusually heavy rainfall in the Andean region, which loosened soil and rock along the steep mountain roads. Experts warn that climate change may be increasing the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events in Peru, a country already vulnerable to landslides and floods.
Local authorities have now reopened the highway to limited traffic, but with strict monitoring for further landslides. Meteorologists predict more rain in the coming days, raising concerns about additional road closures and the need for longer-term infrastructure solutions.
Many of the rescued individuals have been taken to temporary shelters in nearby towns, where they are receiving medical care and supplies. Humanitarian groups have criticized the government for not anticipating the disaster and for the slow initial response, though officials say the remote location and hazardous conditions made a quick rescue difficult.