A tragic accident occurred at the Mount Faito cable car line in Italy, resulting in the deaths of several tourists. The incident happened when the cable car, which was carrying passengers, suddenly lost its cable while traversing a steep area. This led to the cabin crashing down the mountainside.
At the time of the accident, a second cabin was also in use, located lower in the valley. Fortunately, rescuers managed to winch 16 people from that cabin to safety. The president of the region, Vincenzo De Luca, confirmed that all the victims were tourists visiting the area.
Rescue operations faced significant challenges due to poor weather conditions, including fog, wind, and rain. Over 50 firefighters were involved in the rescue efforts, working tirelessly to reach the crash site. Local authorities reported that the cable car had been in operation since 1952 and had recently reopened after undergoing regular safety checks.
The mayor of Castellammare di Stabia, where the cable car is located, indicated that it appeared a traction cable had snapped. He noted that while the emergency brake downstream functioned properly, the emergency brake on the cabin that was approaching the top of the hill failed.
The EAV public transport company, which operates the cable car, expressed deep sorrow over the incident. Their CEO, Umberto de Gregorio, described the event as an unimaginable tragedy. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was in Washington at the time, offered her condolences to the victims’ families.
This incident is reminiscent of past cable car accidents in Italy, including a similar tragedy in 2021 that resulted in 14 deaths due to cable failure. The Mount Faito cable car line, which stretches three kilometers from the town to the mountain’s peak, has had a history of safety checks and maintenance, raising questions about the circumstances that led to this disaster.