A ski lift accident in the Spanish Pyrenees injured at least 30 people on Saturday and left dozens more stranded for hours about 15 meters (50 feet) above the slopes in the resort town of Astun, in the northern region of Aragon.
Regional emergency services in Aragon reported that 10 people required hospitalization after apparently being thrown from elevators due to a hardware failure. Two of the ten people were seriously injured.
Although the cause of the incident is unknown, eyewitnesses said: “It was like a cable came loose, chairs bounced and people were thrown out.” »
Others reported that pieces fell from the elevator, noting that several of the injured may have been hit by falling metal parts.
Images posted on social media showed several skiers lying in the snow under the ski lift. The Spanish Guardia Civil has released a video of its crews in action.
Several helicopters were dispatched to the site to try to transport the injured to hospitals as well as to rescue those stuck above the runways.
No information was given as to the nationality of the people concerned.
Psychologists were quickly dispatched to the scene to help the traumatized skiers.
Aragon’s regional president, Jorge Azcon, immediately visited the scene, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his “shock” on social media, saying his thoughts and prayers were with those affected.
js/rm (AP, dpa)
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