At the least 30 persons are reported to have been injured after a ski carry partially collapsed in northern Spain.
The Astún resort within the Spanish Pyrenees, the place the incident occurred, was closed as rescue companies attended the scene.
Photos and video circulating on social media confirmed a variety of folks mendacity on the snow beneath the ski carry.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated he was “shocked” by the information of the incident.
A pulley at one finish of the chairlift got here unfastened and a part of the construction supporting it collapsed, inflicting a cable to lose rigidity and several other seats to fall, according to state broadcaster TVE.
Seventeen folks wanted medical consideration, native media reported.
Ambulances and helicopters took a few of the injured to hospital.
Dozens of individuals left hanging on the 15m (50ft) excessive chairlift have since been rescued.
Jaime Pelegri, who was on the carry, informed the BBC {that a} cable misplaced rigidity earlier than the chairs on his facet of the construction fell.
“It was very scary, however very quick,” he stated – including that ambulances and helicopters arrived on the scene inside quarter-hour.
Beforehand in a publish on X: “Fortunately we’re positive however there are injured folks, we now have seen a number of stretchers coming down.”
Miguel Ángel Clavero, the director of emergencies for the Aragon area, the place the incident occurred, informed TVE: “We’re speaking about round 30 to 35 folks injured, together with critical, very critical and fewer critical accidents.
“Apparently, there was a failure within the return pulley of one of many chairlifts and this triggered the cable to lose rigidity, inflicting some chairs to fall and others to stay hanging,” he stated.
Photos on social media seem to indicate one of many chairlift’s flywheels off its upright. The reason for the incident will not be but identified.
Regional President Jorge Azcón and Spain’s Minister of the Inside Roberto Bermúdez de Castro went to the scene.
Azcón wrote on X: “All the mandatory companies of the [government] are working to help the affected and injured folks.”
PM Pedro Sánchez stated he had spoken with Azcón to supply the “full help” of the federal government.
A phone line has been arrange for the households of these affected.
The Astún resort, which is standard with skiers, is positioned within the Aragon area of the Pyrenees mountains, close to the border with France.
