At least 30 people have been injured and dozens trapped after a ski lift pulley broke and threw riders from their chairs at a northern Spanish ski resort.
Emergency services are currently working at the Astún ski resort in Huesca, while several helicopters are being used for emergency aid and the transport of those involved in the horrific accident.
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The pulley of the ski lift broke in the accidentCredit: X/PakistaniIndex
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One image shows terrified skiers being taken down from the lift by ladder Credit: X/PASJOAQUIN
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An emergency helicopter flies over the ski lifts at the Astum ski resort in Huesca, SpainCredit: AP
The regional government confirmed that nine people were seriously injured and eight seriously injured in the ordeal.
One woman, believed to be the most seriously injured, was airlifted to a nearby hospital.
In the meantime, about 80 skiers and snowboarders were left hanging from the chairs of the cable car while the mass evacuation continues.
The Civil Guard confirmed that the accident occurred when the seat line “fell off” due to a problem with the cable losing tension.
Because of this, the chair fell from a height of 15 meters.
One survivor told a Spanish TV station amid the chaos: “It seems the wheel broke or came loose and the cable started jumping around and every time that happened we would go up and down.
“We were lucky that we didn’t hit the ground, but there were people in front of us who hit the ground and were hit in the face and other parts of the body.”
Another witness said people were thrown into the air as the seats bounced up and down.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Twitter: “I am shocked by the news of the accident in the Astun ski resort.
“I spoke to the president of Aragon, Jorge Azcona, to offer him the full support of the government.”
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Medical and emergency teams at the Astun Winter complex Credit: EPA
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Multiple people injured during chairlift failureCredit: EPAMoment Ski fans were left hanging in the air as 60km/h winds violently tossed the Italian cable car from side to side
The resort has ceased operations due to the horror incident on the runway of Canal Roy.
All nearby hospitals were notified and put on standby to receive the injured, while a field hospital was reportedly set up in the area to perform initial triage.
Four helicopters were dispatched to the scene, along with firefighters and a staggering 56 ambulances.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was “shocked by the news of the accident”.
He said: “Our condolences to the injured and their families.”
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Aragon, Jorge Azcón, said on X that he was traveling to the scene of the accident.
Azcón said on X: “All the necessary services of the DGA are working to help the affected and injured people.”
The Spanish prime minister also said he had spoken to Azcón to “offer him the full support of the government”.
A telephone line was established for the families of the victims.
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The ski resort is closedCredit: X/jaimepele
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The exact number of seriously injured is currently unknownCredit: X/jaimepele
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Chair collapses in SpainCredit: Navarra Television
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