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More than 120 people were mobilized this Tuesday, November 19, 2024 to participate in rescue operations at the summit of Val Thorens, in Savoie, after a cable car crashed at high speed upon arrival at the station, causing eight injuries – including two serious ones.
A gondola, which was transporting workers, crashed at high speed this Tuesday, November 19, 2024 when it arrived at the station in the Val Thorens resort, in Savoie, causing eight injuries – including two serious.
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The Val Thorens cable car crashes into the arrival station, 8 injured including two serious
What happened?
The accident occurred around 7:45 a.m. Sixteen workers were then heading to the construction site of a panoramic restaurant at the top of Cime Caron, aboard the eponymous cable car. According to the mayor of Belleville, the dumpster “entered the summit station at a fairly high speed” at an altitude of 3,200 meters. “The cable car, which was transporting 16 people responsible for a construction site, hit the arrival station at Cime Caron which is located at approximately 3,200 meters above sea level,” indicated the prefect of Savoie François Ravier during a press point.
How many people were injured?
Some 120 people (firefighters, CRS Alpes, PGHM, Smu and slope services), as well as two helicopters and tracked vehicles were involved in the rescue operations. A medical-psychological emergency unit has also been set up in Orelle. The toll stands at “two seriously injured people with no life-threatening prognosis, who were evacuated to the hospitals of Grenoble and Chambéry” and “six lightly injured”, indicated the mayor of Belleville, noting a previous report which reported six injured, two of whom were serious. The pilot, “very shocked”, was also taken care of, he added.
What caused the accident?
Following the tragedy, the Albertville public prosecutor's office was seized. A team from the investigation and accident office is expected on site from Wednesday morning to analyze the causes of the tragedy. According to Jérôme Grellet, general director of the company operating the cable cars, the station then had to operate in “construction site” or “manual” mode, less secure than the automated one reserved for welcoming the public. The cabin was operated by an “extremely experienced” pilot. As for the weather conditions, they were then “snowy” – “normal” conditions for the high mountain season.
Will the station close?
Despite the accident, the Savoyard resort of Val Thorens will kick off the ski season on Saturday. “We will open the station on Saturday,” the tourist office told AFP. Information concerning the opening perimeter (slopes and lifts) will be communicated soon on social networks. Culminating at 3,200 meters above sea level, Val Thorens is the highest resort in Europe.
