ISTANBUL — The last of 174 people stranded in cable cars high above a mountain in southern Turkey were brought to safety Saturday, nearly 23 hours after one pod hit a pole and burst open, killing one person and injuring seven when they plummeted to the rocks below.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the successful completion of the rescue operation on Saturday afternoon. A total of 607 search and rescue personnel and 10 helicopters were involved in the operation, including teams from Turkey’s emergency response agency, AFAD, the Coast Guard, firefighting teams, and mountain rescue teams from different parts of Turkey. Helicopters with night-vision capabilities worked tirelessly throughout the night to rescue the stranded individuals.
The stranded people had been stuck on the Tunektepe cable car near Antalya since Friday evening when the accident occurred. Istanbul resident Hatice Polat described the harrowing experience, mentioning that the power went out and the pod flipped multiple times, causing fear and trauma among the passengers, especially the children.
The deceased was identified as a 54-year-old Turkish man, and the injured included two children and six Turkish citizens, along with one Kyrgyz national. They were all rescued and taken to hospitals for treatment. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the incident.
The cable car, which carries tourists to a restaurant and viewing platform at the summit of Tunektepe peak, is operated by Antalya Metropolitan Municipality. The incident has raised concerns about safety measures and maintenance of such facilities.