A RESCUE operation is underway to save 110 people who are trapped in cable cars in the French Alps.
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More than 30 tourists, including a 10-year-old child, who were trapped overnight in cable cars thousands of metres up in the French Alps were set to reach the ground early Friday, the operators said.
After a night in the frozen dark, dangling at an altitude of 3,800 meters (12,500 feet), the string of cars lurched into movement at around 8 am (0600 GMT).
Swiss, Italian and French helicopters have evacuated 50 of those who were stranded, but with darkness falling, rescue operations have been halted. He said the helicopters rescued 65 people before the efforts were suspended for the night because of rough flight conditions. The cable auto left about 2:30 in the afternoon and it was just before midnight when they finally belayed us out of the gondolas which was really quite an experience.
He said the remaining passengers could now be rescued without the use of helicopters.
Rescuers provided blankets, food and water to help weather the chilly mountain night-time conditions.
The cable auto, which offers spectacular up-close views of Western Europe’s tallest mountains and deep valleys below, connects the Aiguille de Midi peak in France, at 3,842 metres (12,605 feet), to Pointe Helbronner in Italy, at 3,462 metres (11,358 feet).
After helicopters were grounded, some people – those closest to the ground – were extracted by rescuers working from the glacier beneath them, the AP says. Workers from the operating company tried to untangle the lines but failed.
Cables carrying the Panoramic Mont Blanc cars reportedly tangled around 4 p.m. (1400 GMT).
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“We were there nearly 10 hours in the cable auto”.
