Tragedy Strikes: Four Tourists Killed in Cable Car Crash Near Naples

Four tourists lost their lives in a cable car crash near Naples as the cabin fell due to a snapped cable. Another individual suffered severe injuries, while 16 passengers from a second cabin were safely rescued. Authorities are investigating the incident amid concerns regarding safety protocols.

A tragic cable car accident near Naples has claimed the lives of four tourists, as the cabin they were traveling in plunged to the ground from Mount Faito. Emergency services reported that one additional passenger sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to a hospital for urgent treatment. Initial reports suggest that a cable supporting the cabin snapped when it was approaching the mountain's peak, leading to the catastrophic fall.

Italian news reports indicate that a second cabin was simultaneously using the same cable line but was safely located nearer to the valley, allowing for the rescue of 16 individuals who were subsequently winched to safety by emergency responders. The mayor of Castellammare di Stabia stated that it appears a traction cable was responsible for the incident. Despite regular safety checks being conducted on the cable car system, it seems that the emergency brake mechanism for the cabin that failed to stop functioned improperly.

The president of the Campania region, Vincenzo De Luca, confirmed that all the victims were tourists and noted that challenging weather conditions, including fog, wind, and rain, hampered rescue operations by the more than 50 firefighters engaged in efforts to provide assistance. The cable car service, operated by the EAV public transport company, had just reopened 10 days prior under what it claimed were all requisite safety conditions.

EAV's CEO, Umberto de Gregorio, described the accident as an "unimaginable, unforeseeable tragedy." Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, currently on an official visit to Washington, extended her heartfelt condolences to the victims' families. This disaster echoes memories of previous accidents, including a 1960 cable car crash on the same route that resulted in four fatalities and a more recent tragic incident in 2021, which left 14 dead. As investigations unfold, there may be calls for greater scrutiny and reform in mountain transport safety standards in Italy.