On Saturday, a ski lift collapsed in the Spanish resort of Astun in the Aragon region. 10 people were injured, the El Pais daily reported. The rescue operation has been completed.
A recording of the ski lift's drive wheel falling to the ground appeared online. According to witnesses of the incident, a problem with the rope caused the wheel to break off, which led to numerous falls of skiers from the chairs. Nearly 80 people were trapped on the chairs of a closed ski lift.
– We were sitting on chairs and suddenly we started falling. Then we were swinging like on a see-saw, from one direction to another, reported Gimenez, who was one of the people trapped on the ski lift. – When we were rocking, we had to decide whether to jump or stay where we were. I saw several dozen people jumping from significant heights, he added. Gimenez and his wife remained in the chairs for an hour and a half until they were rescued.
10 people were injured
The authorities of the Spanish region of Aragon reported that ten people were injured as a result of the accident, including two seriously, who were transported to the Miguel Servet hospital and the Clinico hospital in Zaragoza. The first reports said that over 30 people were injured.
Numerous emergency services were dispatched to the resort. Firefighters, rescuers and medical teams worked on site. Five helicopters and ten ambulances were used to transport the injured.
– I was with two friends on chairs. Suddenly I felt myself falling quickly, then bouncing and flying up. “I flew and fell into the snow, and my friends were left with their skis hooked and hanging upside down for half an hour,” said Lorea Maiza, a ski instructor. She added that one of her friends suffered a head injury.
The ski lift collapsedReuters
Spanish ski resort
The Astun resort, popular mainly with Spanish skiers, was packed with tourists when the breakdown occurred.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on Platform X: “I am shocked by the news of this accident. All our support goes to the injured and their families.” The slope was closed while the rescue operation and investigation were carried out.
On Saturday, a ski lift collapsed in the Astun resortENEX
Main photo source: EFE