Peru: More airports close as protests trigger fresh state of emergency

On Thursday (19 January) the airports in Arequipa and Cusco suspended their operations temporarily after a further 30-day state of emergency was declared in the Amazonas, La Libertad and Tacna regions.

According to the UK Foreign Office, all other airports in Peru, including the international airport in Lima, are restricting entry to passengers that hold an ID and a boarding pass.

In an update, the FCDO warned travellers arriving in the country that travel to some parts of Peru or return from Lima may not be possible. 

"These protests are unpredictable and can escalate quickly and include violence," it added. "Clashes between protestors and the security forces have resulted in casualties.

"There were widespread demonstrations in Lima and other parts of the country on 19 January. In Lima these have a focus in the historic centre, but with the potential to spread to other areas."

It comes just days after the Peruvian government announced a state of emergency in Puno, Cusco, Lima, Callao, Andahuaylas, Tambopata, Tahuamanu and the Torata district in the Mariscal Nieto province.