Trapped passengers in cable car near French Mont Blanc evacuated
Xinhua, September 9, 2016 Adjust font size:
A total of 33 people stranded overnight in a cable car near Mont Blanc in southeast France have been evacuated, Mont Blanc Company which runs the cable car said on Friday.
The people were stuck overnight in cable cars near Mont Blanc after a ride between two peaks stopped on Thursday.
"...The last cable (blocking the engine) has been repaired," said Dechavanne Mathieu, CEO of the Mont Blanc company. All the passengers were safe.
The cause of the accident was not identified yet, Mathieu added, noting that strong wind could be behind the ride's tangled cables.
About 110 passengers including a 10-year-old child, were trapped in the Panoramic Mont Blanc cable cars after the line stopped moving at 5:30 p.m. local time (1530 GMT) on Thursday.
Helicopters rescued 65 of these passengers before the night fell but the operation was suspended due to poor flight conditions.
Rescuers brought the remaining group to safety earlier on Friday.
"We have been in touch with them all night. People have cold but we have no vital distress," said Stephane Bozon, captain of PGHM gendarmerie.
Four helicopters, five rescuers, five gendarmes including two Italians have been mobilized to save the stranded passengers. Endit