The accident, which occurred this Saturday in The Astún ski resort, in Canal Roya, has left at least 30 people injured, 10 of them in serious condition. According to the first reports a chairlift would have come down due to an apparent failure in the cable, causing a scene of chaos and concern among skiers and resort staff. The authorities have closed the winter complex and numerous emergency teams have been mobilized to care for the victims and clarify the causes of the incident.
Rescue teams, including helicopters from the Civil Guard, Emergencies and the General Directorate of Aragon (DGA), are working in the area. Besides, 10 ambulances from 061 and five basic life support units from Navarra are transferring the injured to hospitals in the region. The Jaca hospital has been the first to receive those affected, while the hospitals in Huesca and Zaragoza have activated a special emergency plan to guarantee the necessary medical care.
The president of Aragón, Jorge Azcón, and the Minister of the Treasury, Roberto Bermúdez de Castrowho were skiing in Formigal, They immediately moved to the scene of the accident. In preliminary statements, the authorities have expressed their solidarity with the victims and their families, committing to thoroughly investigate the causes of the incident. So far, no deaths have been reported.
Rescue operations continue at the station, where Some people are still hanging from the cable on the affected chairlifts. The members of the Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group (Greim) of the Civil Guard are working against the clock to evacuate those affected and secure the area. Besides, A helpline for family members (976 715 980) has been set up to provide information about the victims.
-Possible causes behind the detachment of the chairlift
Azcón has made his first statements from the Astún ski resort, after the serious accident that occurred this Saturday, stating that they have sent support teams, five helicopters remain operational in the area for rescue efforts. Regarding the causes of the accident, the president indicated: “At this time we know that the administrative controls of the chairlift had been carried out. Now we have to know the causes from technical reports.”
The general director of Emergencies of the Government of Aragon, Miguel Ángel Claverohas reported on the first hypotheses surrounding the accident. According to Clavero, A failure in the return pulley would have caused the chairlift cable to lose the necessary tension.a, which led to a collision between several chairs and left others suspended upside down.
