A significant cable car accident in Italy has left four individuals, including a child, injured.
The incident occurred at Italy’s Verbano-Cusio-Ossola region, specifically at the Monte Moro station situated at approximately 9,000 feet above sea level. Following the morning crash involving two individuals, about 100 people were left stranded.
The injured parties were promptly rescued by a doctor and a nurse who happened to be in the vicinity when the accident took place.
According to the local fire brigade, one of the cable cars struck the mountain station structure, while the other collided with the valley station.
Filippo Besozzi, Director of Macugnaga Trasporti e Servizi, addressed the incident, attributing it to a “technical error” encountered by the cable car.
Besozzi explained to Corriere Torino, an Italian publication, “We encountered a technical problem. The cable car failed to decelerate adequately upon entering the station, leading to an impact with the safety barriers.”
He added, “The ascending cable car was carrying approximately fifteen passengers, with one individual sustaining an arm injury, while others only suffered minor abrasions. All passengers were attended to by emergency services and evacuated via helicopter. The current challenge is evacuating 94 individuals at the Basso Moro station without any emergencies.”
Besozzi further mentioned, “They are all inside the cable car and not directly impacted by the accident, but evacuation is necessary. Firefighters are collaborating with helicopters for the evacuation process. I anticipate the situation will be resolved within a few hours.”
In a separate incident earlier this month, a San Francisco cable car suddenly stopped, resulting in injuries to over a dozen individuals.
Fifteen individuals sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate in the San Francisco incident. The San Francisco Fire Department reported that two individuals were promptly taken to hospitals, while eleven others were treated for minor discomfort.
Cable cars are a popular tourist attraction, famously celebrated in a Tony Bennett song about San Francisco. Passengers on these cable cars typically do not wear seat belts and often enjoy the partially open-air experience.
The operation of cable cars in San Francisco dates back to the 1870s, and they have been recognized as a National Historic Landmark since the 1960s. Presently, the city boasts three cable car lines.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, responsible for the cable cars, emphasized their commitment to passenger safety. They stated, “Ensuring the safety of all Muni vehicle passengers remains our top priority. We will conduct a comprehensive review of the incident to uphold safety standards on the cable cars.”
<p class="CIPAConsentNotice_cipa-info__pwt