Four dead in Cable Car Crash, south of Naples
Four people died after a mountain cable cabin on the ground fell near Napoli in southern Italy, says emergency services.
Italian media reported that two British and two Israelis were killed, which was not confirmed.
Officials said another person “was seriously injured” in the accident in Mount Bayito and was transferred to the hospital.
The local media said that the cabin was near the top of the mountain when one of the cables it supported.
Prosecutors launched the investigation as officials confirmed that the victims were three passengers and driver.
The second cabin was also on the line at the time, but it is located near the lower valley – 16 people were rescued and moved to safety.
The president of the region, Vinsonzo de Luka, said that all the victims were tourists.
The UK Foreign Ministry said it was in contact with the Italian authorities, but it did not confirm the reports of the local media of the dead identities.
De Luka added that bad weather conditions, including fog, wind and rain, have made it difficult for rescuers to reach the area where the cabin was shattered.
The Fire Department said that more than 50 firefighters participated in the rescue efforts.
The Italian media reported that the car was traveling through a very slope area when the cable was picked up. Mount faito is about 1100 meters above sea level.
The mayor of Castellammare di stabia – where the cable was – he believed that the traction cable was picked up.
He told the Italian media: “The emergency brakes worked towards the course of the river, but it is clear that it is not those in the cabin that was about to reach the top of the hill.”
He added that there were regular safety checks on the car line, which runs three kilometers from the city to the top of the mountain.
The company, which runs the service, the public transport company EAV, said that the seasonal cable “was reopened 10 days ago with all the required safety conditions.”
“What happened today is an unimaginable and unexpected tragedy,” said EPPRID, CEO of EAV.
Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, who was on a trip to Washington at the time of the accident, expressed her “sincere condolences” to the families of the victims.
The Mount Faito Cable has been working since 1952. A similar accident on the line in 1960 has left four people.
In 2021.14 they died when a cable connecting Lake Magior decreased in the Bedmont area in Italy with a mountain near the ground. The cause was determined to be a cut cable and the brake failure in emergency situations.
