A ski lift accident at the Astún ski resort in the Pyrenees, near the Spanish border with France, has left at least 30 people injured, including nine with very serious injuries, regional authorities said. The incident, which occurred Saturday, has also stranded approximately 80 people on the lift.
Jamie Pelegri, a skier who was on the chair lift at the time, described the moments of the collapse as “a very scary moment,” explaining that “the cable lost tension,” causing the chairs to fall. He and his wife escaped injury as they had just boarded the lift but saw others falling as high as 15 meters to the snow below.
Emergency services, including helicopters, responded to the scene. Images and videos shared on social media show injured individuals near the collapsed lift and rescue operations in progress. The Spanish Red Cross has deployed advanced life support ambulances and other vehicles to assist.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed shock over the incident, offering condolences and support to the injured and their families. Jorge Azcón, the president of the government of Aragon, announced he was traveling to the site and coordinating with emergency teams.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation. A witness reported to Spanish state broadcaster TVE that “a cable may have come loose,” leading to the chairs bouncing and dislodging riders.
A telephone hotline has been established for affected families, while emergency responders work to safely evacuate those still stranded on the ski lift.
