All victims rescued after cable car accident in southern Türkiye

By Hatice Ozdemir

ANTALYA, Türkiye (AA) - Authorities successfully rescued all those who were trapped Saturday in 24 cabins after a cable car accident in the southern Turkish province of Antalya.

Ramadan Eid congestion led to an accident involving a cable car in Konyaalti district. One person was killed and seven, including two children, were injured when a pole toppled and struck a cabin. A total of 184 people were stranded in the air in 24 cabins.

Public rescue teams, led by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, or AFAD, continued overnight with night vision helicopters.

After 22.5 hours of intense effort involving seven helicopters, 87 vehicles and about 500 personnel, all trapped individuals in the cabins were rescued.

AFAD teams will conclude rescue operations after individually inspecting the cabins with drones.

Those evacuated by helicopters were taken to the Coast Guard Group Command for medical checks by health teams and if necessary, referred to hospitals.

Meanwhile, a detention warrant has been issued for 13 people, including the officers and employees of the company that operates, maintains and repairs the cable car line, Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc wrote X.

Disaster response teams rushed to the scene to rescue survivors, prompting the temporary suspension of cable car operations, leaving many stranded.

Firefighters conducted operations to rescue those trapped in cable cars that were suspended above the ground.

The cause of the accident remains unknown.