Intense floods and raging downpours have been tormenting Peru the past couple of weeks. Because of this, several districts have already declared a state of emergency and over $3 billion in damage have been recorded.
The country's intense weather is also causing some archaeological sites heavy damage, according to a Peruvian archaeologist. Over 50 archaeological sites are now in danger of being totally destroyed which will result in the fall of tourism that thrives on it, Reuters reported.
Dozens of people have died as a result of the extreme floods, and over 100,000 citizens have been displaced. Experts think that this phenomenon is called "coastal El Niño", something Peru hasn't experienced since 1925.
Verónika Mendoza, the leader of the New Peru movement, said in a statement (via The Guardian), "We know the 'coastal El Niño' comes from time to time. We know we are a country that is extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change. We should have prepared ourselves better."
About 20 pyramids in Balta Grande are now under "imminent threat" because of the heavy floods in Lambayeque, Travel Pulse reported. Walter Alva, a Peruvian archaeologist and explorer, told Reuters that the result of the torrential downpour is disturbing. If not paid attention, dozens of age-old pyramids and other historical archaeological sites in Peru will be wiped off the map forever.
"All of the main historic monuments are being impacted by the erosion they're suffering from because of the rains and overflowing rivers," he said. In 1987, Alva led the discovery of the tomb of "Lord of Sipan" of Peru.
Sites that date for more than 1,500. B.C. have been populating Peru's geographical landscape and have been a surging source of tourism for many years. The flood caused by the bad weather, according to experts, is one of the results of global warming, a problem our planet is experiencing today.
The damages have mostly afflicted the northern parts of Peru. Some areas are not affected by the flood and business is still going smoothly as usual.
