A devastating cable car accident occurred on Thursday near Naples, Italy, resulting in the deaths of four people and critically injuring one. The incident took place at Monte Faito, a popular tourist destination about 45 kilometers southeast of Naples, known for its panoramic views of Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples.
According to rescue teams and officials, the cable car cabin plunged to the ground after one of the supporting cables snapped. The cabin then rolled down the mountainside and broke apart. Among the victims were tourists and one employee of the public transit company EAV, which operates the cable car service. The identities of the deceased have not yet been released.
Rescue operations were complicated by adverse weather conditions, including dense fog and strong winds, which hampered access to the crash site at an elevation of approximately 1,200 meters. Firefighters and alpine rescue teams evacuated sixteen passengers from another cable car stranded mid-air nearby using harnesses, ensuring their safety.
The regional president, Vincenzo De Luca, described the event as a tragedy and highlighted the cable car's importance to local tourism. Authorities have launched an inquiry into the accident, with the Torre Annunziata public prosecutor's office overseeing the investigation.
This accident comes just a week after the cable car service resumed operations for the tourist season. It also echoes a previous tragic cable car accident in Italy in 2021, which claimed 14 lives.
The chairman of EAV, Umberto De Gregorio, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it an "unthinkable and unforeseen calamity."
The rescue and investigation efforts continue as officials seek to determine the exact cause of the cable failure and prevent future tragedies.