Rafting on the Apurimac (Archive)
Photo: Danny Solomon
Peru: Israeli killed in rafting accident
20 year-old Israeli woman killed while rafting on Apurimac river; other hikers unharmed
A 20 years-old Israeli hiker was killed in Peru on the night between Thursday and Friday in a rafting accident on the Apurimac River, the Foreign Ministry reported. The young woman's family was notified of her death.
The details of the accident are still unclear, but it has been reported that no other rafter was injured. The Israeli embassy in Lima is currently handling the transfer of the hiker's body to Israel.
Amit Rubin, a member of a rescue team who is familiar with the location of the accident told Ynet the Apurimac is a very popular destination for travelers.
"Many hikers get there to go on a rafting trip. Unfortunately, this is not the first victim the river has claimed. The place is beautiful, there are some striking canyons and the sailing is well-organized. However, at some places in the river the current is very strong and sometimes whirlpools are created, which under certain conditions can be very hard to get out of," he explained.
South America attracts thousands of Israeli hikers every year, with adventures sometimes ending in death or disappearances. Last September six Israeli travelers went missing for a week in Bolivia, and eventually found safe and sound. Three months later, four Israelis lost their way while hiking in Chile, and were also missing for several days.
Dorit Siton contributed to the report
