A serious chairlift accident at a Spanish ski resort left more than 30 people injured, some in critical condition. The causes of this extremely rare incident are still unknown but the authorities have opened an investigation. The skiers experienced moments of panic…
An extremely rare and particularly serious chairlift accident occurred this Saturday in a ski resort in the Spanish Pyrenees, near the French border. The provisional report shows around thirty injured, several of whom are in critical condition. The images of the incident shocked the entire country.
Around thirty injured, including three in critical condition
According to initial information from local authorities, between 30 and 35 people were injured when a technical problem on a chairlift at the Astún station caused several chairs to suddenly fall. Among the victims, three people are said to be in a particularly worrying state and were urgently evacuated to hospitals in the region, including a woman who was airlifted.
Obviously, there was a problem with the pulley of one of the chairlifts, which led to a loss of tension in the cable and the fall of some chairlifts.
– Miguel Ángel Clavero, director of emergency services of Aragon
Panic on the chairlift
The skiers present on the chairlift at the time of the accident experienced moments of panic. “We suddenly heard a noise and fell to the ground in the chairlift. We bounced five times, up, down and our backs hurt and we took hits but there were people who fell from the chairlifts,” says María Moreno, one of the injured. Another witness recalls a real horror film: “Suddenly, the chairlifts started bouncing and people were flying.”
A vast rescue operation
Faced with the scale of the accident, a vast rescue operation was immediately launched. Five helicopters and around fifteen ambulances were mobilized to evacuate the injured to hospitals in the region. A field hospital was also set up on site. All the skiers who remained stuck in the chairlifts were able to be rescued.
The causes of the accident still unknown
If a technical problem on the pulley of one of the chairlifts seems to be the cause of this tragedy, the exact causes have yet to be determined. The authorities have opened an investigation to try to understand how such an accident could have occurred despite the regular checks and draconian safety standards to which ski lifts are subject.
A station in shock
This unprecedented accident plunged the Astún station into astonishment and incomprehension. Nothing suggested such a tragedy in this family resort appreciated for the quality of its ski area and its equipment. All ski lifts were immediately shut down as a precautionary measure.
-We are shocked and saddened by this tragic event. Our thoughts are with the injured and their families. We are doing everything we can to understand what happened and ensure it never happens again.
– The management of the Astún station
A careful investigation
The experts dispatched to the site will sift through all the elements of the damaged chairlift to try to identify the technical origin of the problem. The investigation will have to determine whether it is a design flaw, a maintenance problem or human error. The conclusions will be decisive in establishing responsibilities and compensating victims.
A trauma for skiers
Beyond the physical injuries, the skiers involved in this accident risk having psychological after-effects. Many thought their last hour had arrived when their seats began to fall. Support and psychological support will be put in place to help victims overcome this trauma.
An extremely rare event
While ski accidents are unfortunately common, those involving ski lifts are extremely rare. The chairlifts are designed with drastic safety standards to guard against any failure. Thorough technical checks are carried out daily. This accident, however, reminds us that zero risk does not exist and that vigilance must remain essential.
Lessons to learn
This dramatic accident should serve as a wake-up call for all ski resorts. Beyond the shock and emotion, it is crucial to understand what went wrong to further strengthen safety measures and maintenance protocols. Each station will undoubtedly review all of its facilities in light of this event.
If this accident aroused strong emotion throughout the country, it also triggered a tremendous outpouring of solidarity towards the injured and their families. Many messages of support have poured in from all over Spain and beyond. Everyone now hopes for a rapid recovery of the injured and clear answers on the causes of this tragedy so that it does not happen again.
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