A family of tourists stranded in the Peruvian city of Cusco amid anti-government protests have described “people walking around with baseball bats and breaking down doors”.
Hannah and Garrett Spray, from Vancouver, Canada, have been stuck in their hostel with their daughter for the past five days.
They were due to fly back home via Lima on Tuesday, but have been made to stay in their room for their own safety.
Mrs Spray told Sky News: “It’s been a stressful few days, for sure.
“There has been a lot of protesting. A lot of it was really peaceful too, with people who just had a message to share.
“But then there were people banging on doors or walking around with baseball bats, breaking down doors, starting fires.”
She added that although they didn’t witness the incidents first hand: “We had a couple scary moments when we were actually running down the streets to make sure we were safe.”
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Airports and tourist sites disconnected
Demonstrations have swept the Latin American country since the ousting of its former president Pedro Castillo, who faces 10 years if found guilty of rebellion and conspiracy charges.
Although he insists he is still the nation’s rightful leader, he was replaced last Wednesday by former vice president Dina Boluarte after Mr Castillo tried to dissolve parliament and rule by decree until new elections.
Since then pro-Castillo protesters have clashed with police, with 18 people reported dead and five airports closed by demonstrations.
Cusco International and a number of key tourist sites, including Machu Picchu, have been left disconnected from their usual travel links, leaving thousands of tourists stranded.
On Monday, some demonstrators tried to storm the airport while it was shut. Some flights have now resumed.
Family can see protests from hostel window
Left-wing politician Mr Castillo, a former teacher and son of peasant farmers, narrowly won an election last year running under the banner of the Marxist Free Peru party.
Four nations with leftist presidents – Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and Mexico – have backed a joint statement declaring Mr Castillo to be “a victim of undemocratic harassment” after he was forcibly removed from office. He denies all the charges against him.
Mr and Mrs Spray said they have kept up with what is going on across Peru via social and local media while confined to their room.
“We could see the Plaza de Armas from our room where most of the protests have been going on, so we kept an eye on things from a good distance and just hung tight and played cards and watched some TV,” Mr Spray said.
They hope to be back in Canada by Wednesday next week.
