The last 174 people stranded in cable cars in southern Turkey were rescued after nearly 23 hours. The incident occurred when one pod hit a pole, killing one person and injuring seven others. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the successful completion of the rescue operation. A total of 607 search and rescue personnel and 10 helicopters were involved in the operation, which included teams from Turkey’s emergency response agency, AFAD, the Coast Guard, firefighting teams, and mountain rescue teams. Istanbul resident Hatice Polat described the terrifying ordeal of being stuck in the cable car with her family for seven hours, saying they were constantly in fear and that it was very traumatic.
State-run Anadolu Agency identified the deceased as a 54-year-old Turkish man, and the injured included two children, six Turkish citizens, and one Kyrgyz national. They were all rescued by Coast Guard helicopters and taken for treatment. Thirteen other people rescued from different cars were also taken to hospitals for checkups. Images in Turkish media showed the damaged car swaying from dislodged cables on the rocky mountain as medics tended to the injured. The incident occurred on the final day of a three-day public holiday in Turkey marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, where families typically visit coastal resorts.
The cable car carries tourists from Konyaalti beach to a restaurant and viewing platform at the summit of the 618-meter Tunektepe peak in Antalya. Operated by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, the cable car line was completed in 2017 and undergoes major inspections at the beginning of the year, as well as routine inspections throughout the year. The Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the incident, with an expert commission consisting of mechanical and electrical engineers, as well as health and safety experts, assigned to determine the cause of the accident. The rescue operation involved helicopters with night-vision capabilities, and despite the challenging conditions, all stranded individuals were safely brought back to the ground.
The survivors recounted harrowing experiences of fear and uncertainty while stuck in the cable cars, with one passenger mentioning that the power went out and their pod flipped multiple times. The passengers, including children, faced a traumatic night as they awaited rescue. The successful completion of the operation was a result of coordination between various emergency response teams and a massive effort involving hundreds of personnel. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of stringent safety measures in tourist facilities like cable cars. The authorities have vowed to investigate the cause of the accident thoroughly to prevent similar incidents in the future. The affected individuals will receive medical attention and support as they recover from the ordeal.
