El Niño-driven drought fuels forest fires across Peru; Cusco reports five dead

Peru's Cusco region has recorded over 280 forest fires with six still active, and five deaths, while Áncash reports 187 fires and Tarapoto firefighters handle up to four emergencies daily. Senamhi warns that El Niño and lack of rain will maintain favorable fire-spread conditions in coming days, indicating an ongoing and worsening situation.