In the southern Turkish province of Antalya, a tragic incident occurred when a cable car cabin collided with a broken pole, resulting in one fatality and injuries to 17 others.
According to Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, the injured individuals have been transported to hospitals, and their medical treatment is ongoing. Individuals who were rescued and indicated that they did not require hospital transportation underwent health assessments within the ambulances, he added.
Dozens of people were trapped midair for 23 hours after a cable car accident in Turkey's resort city of Antalya.
One cable plummeted into a rocky area, killing one person and injuring others. pic.twitter.com/svKSOU7I7L
— DW News (@dwnews) April 13, 2024
The unfortunate incident occurred late on Friday afternoon. Specifically, one of the cable cars in the Sarisu-Tunektepe system plunged into a rocky area, as reported by Koca.
Following approximately 24 hours of relentless rescue efforts, a total of 184 individuals, who were left stranded in midair since the accident, have been successfully rescued. This commendable feat was reported by Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency.
In a statement on social media platform X, the Ministry of the Interior reported that seven helicopters and over 500 rescue workers were actively involved in the rescue operations.
During the cable car incident, Istanbul resident Hatice Polat and her family were successfully rescued after seven hours of being stranded in the cabins.
There was an accident in Turkey – the cable car cabin fell.
The cab was going up the mountain from Konyaalti Beach in western Antalya.
As a result, one person died and seven others sustained various injuries. About 200 people still remain in the blocked cable car cabins.The… pic.twitter.com/hXzGJo8GmE
— Peacemaker (@peacemaket71) April 13, 2024
Polat, recounted her harrowing experience during the cable car incident. According to her, the power suddenly went out, plunging the cabin into darkness. As if that wasn’t terrifying enough, the pod flipped four or five times, adding to the panic and disorientation of those trapped inside.
“The night was awful, we were very scared. There were children with us, they passed out,” she said. “It was torture being up there for seven hours. It is swaying every second, you’re constantly in fear. … It was very traumatic, I don’t know how we’ll get over this trauma.”
According to Anadolu, the individual who tragically lost their life in the cable car accident was a 54-year-old Turkish man. Among the injured were two children, six Turkish citizens, and one Kyrgyz national.
Images in Turkish media captured the battered cable car, precariously swaying from dislodged cables on the side of the rocky mountain. Amid this chaotic scene, medics diligently tended to the wounded, providing much-needed care and comfort.
Meanwhile, videos released by the interior and health ministries depicted rescue personnel, securely tied to safety ropes, bravely climbing into the cabins.
The Tunektepe Cable Car, operated by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, transports tourists from Konyaalti Beach to a restaurant and viewing platform situated atop the 618-meter (2,028-foot) Tunektepe peak.
The Cable Car, which was constructed in 2017, undergoes comprehensive inspections at the start of each year, in addition to regular checks throughout the year. Following the recent accident, Yilmaz Tunc, Turkey’s Minister of Justice, has initiated an investigation, leading to detention orders for 13 individuals.
According to a preliminary report, the Tunektepe Cable Car accident was attributed to corrosion and inadequacy at the connection points of the carrier poles and damage in the rolling system, tunc stated on X.
Tunc added, Turkey’s Minister of Justice, has ordered the detention of several individuals in connection with the Tunektepe Cable Car accident. Among those detained are employees of the company operating the cable car and employees of the company responsible for the maintenance and repair of the line.
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