According to officials, around fourteen people were killed in a cable car accident in northern Italy. A spokesman for the National Alpine Speleological Rescue Corps stated that a cable broke Sunday morning when a group of people was riding in a Stresa-Mottarone cable car from the Lido di Stresa square on Lake Maggiore to the neighboring Mottarone mountain in the Piedmont region.
According to the Italian news agency ANSA, the cable car was finishing its twenty-minute journey, some 4891 feet (1491 meters) above sea level at the top of the mountain, when the cable broke 984 feet (three hundred meters) from the top of the mountain. Afterward, the cable car then crashed into a wooded area with no direct connection to the road.
Helicopters dropped alpine rescuers to the crash area and lifted out the wounded and dead bodies through them. Authorities said that fifteen passengers, including two children, were riding in the car when the deadly crash happened. According to the rescue group, the National Alpine Speleological Rescue Corps tweet, one of the two children transported by helicopter to Turin hospital did not make it. The other child remains in a critical condition, and officials earlier said both children survived with injuries.
Italian Prime Minister Expressed his Condolences to Loved Ones of Deceased
A photographer at the crash site, posted by the national fire brigade of Italy, shows the first respondents surrounding the distorted cable car near broken trees and detached cables. A spokesman for the fire brigade also said that the death toll could rise. Mario Draghi, the Prime Minister of Italy, expressed his sympathy and condolences to loved ones of the departed souls.
In a statement, the prime minister said that he learned with deep sorrow the news of the heart-breaking accident of the Stresa-Mottarone cable car. He also expressed his condolences on behalf of his whole government to the families of the victims, with a special sympathy for the children who were seriously injured. Draghi is receiving continuous updates on the situation from the local authorities and Enrico Giovannini – the Minister of Sustainable Infrastructure & Mobility.
Source: Web
Sympathies from European Parliament Officials
David Sassoli, the President of the European Parliament, tweeted in Italian, “In this moment of pain, I cling to the families and friends of the victims of the tragic accident of the Stresa-Mottarone cable car. Moreover, my thoughts are that of @ Europarl_IT and with you.”
In questo momento di dolore, mi stringo alle famiglie e agli amici delle vittime del tragico incidente della funivia Stresa-Mottarone.
Il mio pensiero e quello dell’@Europarl_IT è con voi.
Che sia fatta subito chiarezza sulle cause di questa assurda tragedia.
— David Sassoli (@EP_President) May 23, 2021
Charles Michel, the European Council President, also tweeted in the Italian language, “I offer my deepest condolences to all the families and friends who lost a loved one in the tragic cable car accident in Stresa near the #LagoMaggiore Europe is in mourning with you. I wish the survivors a speedy recovery.”
Porgo le mie più sentite condoglianze a tutte le famiglie e gli amici che hanno perso una persona cara nel tragico incidente di funivia a Stresa vicino al #LagoMaggiore
L’Europa è in lutto con voi.
Auguro una rapida guarigione ai sopravvissuti.
Stay strong.
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) May 23, 2021
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