The cable car accident near Naples has prompted an investigation into safety protocols and cable integrity, raising concerns over the reliability of similar transport systems.
Tragedy Strikes: Four Tourists Killed in Cable Car Crash Near Naples
Tragedy Strikes: Four Tourists Killed in Cable Car Crash Near Naples
Four people have lost their lives in a tragic cable car accident in southern Italy, with additional injuries reported.
Four tourists tragically died when a cable car cabin fell near Mount Faito, south of Naples, Italy. One person sustained critical injuries and was flown to a nearby hospital. Reports indicate that the accident occurred due to a snapped cable when the cabin was nearing the mountain's peak. At the same time, a second cabin was low on the line, and its 16 occupants were successfully rescued despite harsh weather conditions, including fog and rain.
Rescue operations involved over 50 firefighters, but the inclement weather complicated efforts. Vincenzo De Luca, the regional president, confirmed that all victims were tourists and highlighted the challenges rescue teams faced due to the weather.
The mayor of Castellammare di Stabia speculated that the failure of a traction cable led to the disaster, though the downstream emergency brake functioned as intended. The cable car, which began operations in 1952, had reopened just ten days prior, following safety checks mandated by the operating company, EAV public transport firm. EAV's CEO, Umberto de Gregorio, expressed deep sorrow over the unimaginable tragedy.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, currently on an official trip to Washington, extended her heartfelt condolences to the victims' families.
This is not the first incident of its kind; a similar event in 1960 resulted in four fatalities, and a 2021 cable car crash in Northern Italy claimed 14 lives due to cable failure and emergency brake issues. The devastating accident near Naples highlights the pressing need for rigorous safety measures in aerial transport systems.
