128 stranded midair rescued after cable car accident in Türkiye
UPDATED/VIDEO

REGION  13 April 2024 - 13:18

Tragic incident occurred on April 12 when a collapsing pole collided with a cable car, leaving 1 dead and injuring 7 others.

Authorities have successfully rescued 128 stranded people after a cable car accident that left one dead and seven others wounded in the southern Turkish province of Antalya, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on April 13, Caliber.Az reports.

Four helicopters under the Coast Guard Command played an active role in the rescue operation, Yerlikaya said on X.

Teleferikte mahsur kalan vatandaşlarımızı kurtarma çalışmaları aralıksız devam etmektedir.

Asılı kalan 1️⃣5️⃣ kabindeki 9️⃣8️⃣ kişi başarıyla tahliye edilmiştir.

Sahil Güvenlik Komutanlığına ait 4️⃣ helikopter kurtarma çalışmalarında aktif olarak görev yapmaktadır.

Bölgeye #AFAD,… pic.twitter.com/7LzhEbXizM

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) April 13, 2024

"128 people in the 16 cabins that were left hanging have been successfully evacuated. The area (operation) is being supported by a combined effort including AFAD, gendarmerie, police, military, UMKE, NGOs, and fire brigade, totaling 545 search and rescue personnel. Additionally, resources include 7 helicopters, 1 military cargo aircraft, 108 vehicles, 6 ambulances, and drones."

In Antalya's Konyaalti district, a tragic incident occurred on April 12 when a collapsing pole collided with a cable car, causing one fatality and injuring seven others, including two children.

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 suspended above the ground.

The cause of the accident remains unknown so far.

10:12

A tragic incident occurred in Antalya where a cable car cabin fell, resulting in casualties and injuries.

A rescue operation was initiated for the 184 people stranded in the cable cars. The incident took place at the Tünektepe Cable Car Facility in the Konyaaltı district of Antalya, amid the busy period of the Ramadan Bayram holiday. One of the support pillars of the cable car system collapsed for reasons yet to be determined, causing a cabin carrying 8 people to crash onto a rocky area, Business Turkey reports.

Upon receiving reports from bystanders, firefighting, police, medical, and rescue teams were dispatched to the scene. The responding teams determined that one person had lost their life, while 7 others, including 2 children, sustained injuries.

The victim was identified as Memiş Gümüş (54), and the injured individuals were named as Özlem Şahin, Kaan Akgün, Fatih Gümüş, Keziban Çapar Gümüş, Lütfullah Kerim Gümüş, Herdem Eyüpoğlu, and Akmaral Abdyldaeva.

Following the accident, 184 people were left stranded in the cable cars due to the system’s halt. Efforts are underway to safely evacuate them. 

Antalya Mayor Muhittin Böcek, who arrived at the scene, provided updates to SÖZCÜ TV, stating that helicopters from Aydın, Bursa, and Balıkesir were dispatched to evacuate the stranded individuals.

Meanwhile, efforts continue to evacuate the remaining passengers, with Antalya Metropolitan Municipality and AFAD teams coordinating the rescue operations.

In a statement via social media platform X, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the casualty and injury toll, adding that rescue operations are ongoing with the assistance of various emergency response teams, including Coast Guard helicopters. He expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

Teleferikte mahsur kalan vatandaşlarımızı kurtarma çalışmaları aralıksız devam etmektedir.

Asılı kalan 1️⃣5️⃣ kabindeki 9️⃣8️⃣ kişi başarıyla tahliye edilmiştir.

Sahil Güvenlik Komutanlığına ait 4️⃣ helikopter kurtarma çalışmalarında aktif olarak görev yapmaktadır.

Bölgeye #AFAD,… pic.twitter.com/7LzhEbXizM

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) April 13, 2024

Caliber.Az