Two British Columbians stranded in Cusco, Peru due to civil unrest | 24CA News
Two British Columbians are caught in Cusco, Peru, amid ongoing protests and civil unrest within the South American nation.
Tony Hepburn and Colleen Fish of Ladner, B.C., arrived in Peru on Dec. 1, 2022, and have since been caught up within the journey chaos related to the nation’s state of emergency.
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The couple stated they narrowly made it to Cusco from Aguas Calientes on Saturday after strolling greater than 35 km with “hundreds of people” as a consequence of a prepare station having its gates welded shut.
The B.C. couple needed to stroll 35 kilometres alongside a prepare monitor to make it to Cusco, Peru.
Twitter/ @TonyHepburn
Their driver was additionally attacked by different Peruvians for serving to them escape the world, the couple stated.
“Our driver that dropped us off was swarmed and attacked in the middle of the street,” Hepburn instructed Global News on Sunday.
“We got away from that as quickly as possible. It was pretty nerve-racking.”
The couple is now at a resort in Cusco and is desperately making an attempt to e book flights overseas.
“Our biggest challenge right now is getting out of Cusco,” Hepburn stated.
The couple’s return ticket with Air Canada doesn’t depart Lima till Dec. 23, which the couple doesn’t need to look forward to.
They have been reserving flights to attempt to go away, nonetheless, they haven’t been capable of make it to the airport.
“We have two flights we are hoping to get. One booked for tomorrow and one on Wednesday,” he stated.
“The hotel we are staying at right now is basically deserted except for us.”
Read extra:
B.C. backpacker caught in Peru amid civil unrest
Hepburn stated they have been contacted by an American embassy that instructed them the state of affairs is about to get so much worse.
“It has informed us the situation is going to escalate on Monday with more protests, blockades and strikes. Flights will be likely getting grounded,” Hepburn stated.
Another huge hurdle: the closest airport is slammed with individuals and getting there may be difficult with the continuing protests and blockades.
“You can’t just drive to the airport and get in. There are too many blockades and it’s too dangerous,” he stated.
“We already went through the one blockade and our driver was assaulted by a guy carrying a sickle.”
Hepburn has been documenting their journey woes on his Twitter web page, together with a brief video of when their driver was attacked.
“Canadian Government response (is) way behind fellow USA travelers,” he wrote on his Twitter web page.
“No help from Air Canada, either.”
The couple stated it has been in touch with the Canadian embassy and is working with brokers to attempt to expedite their go away.
They did say the American embassy has completed a greater job at serving to the American travellers go away Peru whereas the Canadians’ response has been slower.
Global News has reached out to Air Canada and it did reply in an e mail.
“Air Canada has had a flexible rebooking policy in place since Dec.15, for travel to and from Lima, Peru,” Air Canada employees stated.
“We note these customers are travelling back from Peru on Dec. 22, 2022; therefore they are able to rebook themselves on an earlier flight as availability permits based on Air Canada’s current goodwill policy.”
Hepburn stated communication with Air Canada has been poor.
“They basically told us we are on our own,” he stated.
The couple stated they are going to be heading to the close by airport on Sunday.
They shall be tenting out, hoping to catch a flight out of Peru.
Global News has reached out to the Canadian Embassy in Peru and Global Affairs Canada for remark.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
