Italy cable car accident: At least 14 dead near Lake Maggiore including one child
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At least 14 people, including one child, have died after a cable car fell to the ground on a mountainside in the north of Italy, emergency responders have said.
The Italian government launched an investigation to determine the causes of the crash on the Stresa-Mottarone line in the Piedmont region.
A second child, thought to be around five years old, remains in hospital after the incident near the summit of the Stresa-Mottarone line in the Piedmont region, Italy’s Alpine rescue service said.
Walter Milan, a spokesman for the service, told Italian media it was a “very serious accident” with the car falling from a considerable height to the woods below.
Mr Milan said that 15 people had been travelling in the cable car at the time of the accident.
Several foreign nationals, including three Israelis and an Iran-born man, were killed along with Italian citizens in the cable car crash, according to local media reports.
Local police told Italy’s Adnkronos news agency the cab fell after a supporting cable on the line snapped.
Italy’s infrastructure minister, Enrico Giovannini, followed the rescue effort, which involved three helicopters, fire crews, police and mountain rescue services.
“We are trying to understand what has happened, but it is a truly terrible tragedy,” the minister said in a statement.
Cable car crashes in Italy
Emergency responders said that nine people have been killed after a cable car plunged to the ground on a mountainside in the country’s north.
Another three people have been taken to hospital, Italy’s Alpine rescue service said.
Fire service on the scene of crash
Italy’s fire and rescue service said local firefighters were on the scene of the crash. The service confirmed people had died, but said the current toll of nine was “provisional”.
Two children hospitalised
Two children have been airlifted to hospital after the crash, Italy’s alpine rescue service said.
Walter Milan, a spokesman for the service, confirmed that the children had been taken to a paediatric hospital in the city of Turin.
Italian minister issues statement on ‘tragedy'
Enrico Giovannini, Italy’s minister of sustainable infrastructure and mobility issued the following statement in response to the crash:
“A terrible tragedy, I have already spoken with the prefect and the director of the Fire Brigade and Civil Protection.
“We are trying to understand what has happened, but it is a truly terrible tragedy.”
Latest photos from crash site
Italian police have released photos from the crash site showing officers at the scene.
Cable car underwent maintenance in 2016
Italian media are reporting the cable car had undergone maintenance in 2016.
Corriere della Sera, a national newspaper in Italy, report the president of the Italian Association of Cableway Operators (Anef) as saying: “The plant was completely safe.”
The paper reports the cable car had been dismantled and reassembled during renovations. The cable was also reportedly examined at the time.
The Independent has asked Anef for further details.
Latest pictures from scene
More photographs coming through from the scene. Some here showing the base of the Stresa-Mottarone line, which the crashed cab had been travelling on.
Death toll rises to 12
The number of people killed in the crash has risen to 12, according to Italy’s Alpine Rescue Service.
Walter Milan, spokesman for the rescue service, said 15 people were travelling in the cable car, revising the figure up from 11.
Firefighters release footage from crash site
Italian PM offers condolences to families affected
Mario Draghi, Italy’s prime minister, has offered his condolences to the families of those killed in the crash.
“I learned with deep sorrow the news of the tragic accident of the Stresa-Mottarone cable car. I express the condolences of the whole government to the families of the victims, with a special thought for the seriously injured children and their families,” the prime minister said in a statement.
The prime minister’s office said Mr Draghi was following the situation as it develops.
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