Overview
- An 11-year-old girl who was burned in a Pomacanchi forest fire on Sept. 26 died after six days in the Hospital Regional del Cusco and her 18-year-old brother remains in intensive care with severe burns.
- A large wildfire that began in Yanahuara, Urubamba, has produced dense smoke over homes, killed at least one adult and injured two, and prompted COER Cusco to seek aerial firefighting support because ground teams are nearly exhausted.
- Regional officials in Cajamarca confirmed the death of an 84-year-old man burned in a fire in Cajabamba, while Junín authorities report dozens of separate incidents this year that have damaged pasture, crops and livestock.
- Local police and regional agencies are investigating causes for multiple blazes with some officials suspecting deliberate or negligent burns and warning that weak sanctions limit deterrence.
- Response gaps are deepening civilian harm: hospitals lack specialized resources such as a skin bank, families need replacement blood units and humanitarian aid, and strained manpower risks wider damage to water sources, livelihoods and tourist access routes.