A tragic cable car crash near Naples, Italy, claimed the lives of four individuals, including two British tourists, one Israeli tourist, and a cable car operator. The incident occurred on Thursday when the cable car, part of the service connecting Castellammare di Stabia and Monte Faito, plunged to the ground after a supporting cable snapped.
The crash took place at Monte Faito, a popular scenic peak offering breathtaking views of Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples, located approximately 45 kilometers south-east of the city. The crash resulted in the immediate death of four passengers, while one additional passenger, an Israeli tourist, was left in critical but stable condition. The injured passenger was swiftly transported to a nearby Naples hospital for treatment.
According to Italian media, the cable car operator was among the victims. The other victims were two British tourists and one Israeli tourist. A second Israeli tourist survived but remains in critical condition.
The chairman of the EAV public transport company, which operates the cable car service, expressed his shock at the accident. “An unimaginable tragedy. Horrible,” Umberto De Gregorio said in a statement on Facebook. He confirmed that all necessary safety tests had been conducted before the cable car service resumed operations for the spring and summer season last week.
The incident has left both local officials and the public in disbelief. “We will have to clarify what happened,” De Gregorio added, emphasizing the need for an investigation into the cause of the crash. Local prosecutors in the nearby town of Torre Annunziata have launched an inquiry into the incident.
The cable car system, which offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape, carried approximately 113,000 passengers last year. On the day of the tragedy, the cable car system was impacted by high winds and fog, which complicated the efforts of emergency responders. Emergency brakes on the second cable car, which became stuck in mid-air, helped prevent further casualties.
Emergency services worked tirelessly to rescue nine individuals who had been trapped in the cabin that survived. These passengers were evacuated one by one with the aid of harnesses, as seen in footage aired on RAI public television.
This latest cable car accident comes just a few years after a similar tragedy in Italy in 2021, when 14 people lost their lives in a cable car accident near Lake Maggiore in northern Italy.
The tragic events have sent shockwaves through the Campania region, and the investigation into the cause of the accident continues. The people of Naples and beyond are grappling with the devastating loss of life and the questions surrounding the safety of these popular cable car services.
As authorities investigate the cause of the crash, the incident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of safety protocols and inspections for public transportation systems, especially those that carry tourists and locals to scenic, high-altitude destinations.
Sources By Agencies
