At least four people lost their lives, and a fifth is in critical condition after a cable car plunged down Monte Faito, near Naples, with nine others trapped in a separate car during rescue efforts.
Cable Car Tragedy in Italy: Four Dead, Multiple Injured in Monte Faito Crash
Cable Car Tragedy in Italy: Four Dead, Multiple Injured in Monte Faito Crash
A cable car accident in Italy results in multiple fatalities and critical injuries, sparking an investigation into safety protocols.
In a tragic incident on Thursday afternoon, a cable car carrying tourists fell and rolled down a mountainside on Monte Faito, Italy, resulting in four confirmed deaths and leaving one person in critical condition. The crash occurred as the cable car broke apart, leading to rescue operations for nine individuals who were trapped in a separate cable car that had stalled nearby, according to authorities.
The national spokesman for the Italian firefighters, Luca Cari, described the situation as “very ugly,” but the exact cause of the incident remains unclear at this time. The victims include tourists, among whom one was identified as an employee of EAV, the public transport company that operates the cable car services. Italian prosecutors from Torre Annunziata, responsible for judicial oversight in the region, have initiated an investigation into the crash.
The rescue operation was complicated by adverse weather conditions, including high winds and fog, as reported by Vincenzo De Luca, governor of the Campania Region. More than 50 firefighters participated in the rescue, which included removing debris from the site, such as fallen cables that obstructed local transportation and housing.
The cable car in question is a vital component of the tourism industry, offering spectacular views from its route, which connects Castellammare di Stabia—a town with about 66,000 residents—to Monte Faito, standing over 3,600 feet high.
This incident is reminiscent of Italy's previous cable car tragedies, including the 2021 crash in Piedmont that resulted in 14 fatalities due to mechanical failures, marking it as one of the deadliest disasters in recent memory.
Umberto De Gregorio, the chairman of EAV, labeled the occurrence as an “unimaginable and unpredictable tragedy,” revealing that the service had recently resumed operations for the tourism season following a winter break.
Elisabetta Povoledo, based in Rome, has been covering events in Italy for several decades, including significant cultural and political topics during her extensive career.
The national spokesman for the Italian firefighters, Luca Cari, described the situation as “very ugly,” but the exact cause of the incident remains unclear at this time. The victims include tourists, among whom one was identified as an employee of EAV, the public transport company that operates the cable car services. Italian prosecutors from Torre Annunziata, responsible for judicial oversight in the region, have initiated an investigation into the crash.
The rescue operation was complicated by adverse weather conditions, including high winds and fog, as reported by Vincenzo De Luca, governor of the Campania Region. More than 50 firefighters participated in the rescue, which included removing debris from the site, such as fallen cables that obstructed local transportation and housing.
The cable car in question is a vital component of the tourism industry, offering spectacular views from its route, which connects Castellammare di Stabia—a town with about 66,000 residents—to Monte Faito, standing over 3,600 feet high.
This incident is reminiscent of Italy's previous cable car tragedies, including the 2021 crash in Piedmont that resulted in 14 fatalities due to mechanical failures, marking it as one of the deadliest disasters in recent memory.
Umberto De Gregorio, the chairman of EAV, labeled the occurrence as an “unimaginable and unpredictable tragedy,” revealing that the service had recently resumed operations for the tourism season following a winter break.
Elisabetta Povoledo, based in Rome, has been covering events in Italy for several decades, including significant cultural and political topics during her extensive career.
