Tragedy Strikes: Four Die in Italy Cable Car Crash Near Naples

NAPLES, Italy — Four tourists were killed and another man was seriously injured when a cable car plunged to the ground near Naples on Thursday. The accident occurred at Mount Faito, approximately three kilometers from Castellammare di Stabia, as the cable car approached the summit.

The Italian fire department confirmed the fatalities, stating, “Four lifeless bodies were found, while a fifth injured person was rescued and taken to hospital.” A total of 50 firefighters were involved in the rescue efforts, which were complicated due to fog and high winds.

Reports indicate that a cable snapped while the car was transporting passengers over a steep area, which led to the deadly fall. There was a second cabin in operation at the time, carrying 16 tourists, but they were safely evacuated.

Vincenzo De Luca, the president of the Campania region, expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and highlighted the rescue difficulties caused by adverse weather conditions. “The rescue operations were significantly hampered by fog and high winds,” he told Rai public television.

Umberto De Gregorio, CEO of the EAV public transport company that operates the cable car, called the event “an unimaginable, unforeseeable tragedy.” He added that the cable car had recently reopened for the summer season, and all requisite safety conditions were met at the time.

Since its inception in 1952, the Mount Faito cable car has faced scrutiny after a similar incident in 1960 left four people dead due to a cable failure. This recent tragedy has reignited concerns over the safety of cable car operations in the region.

The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, who was traveling in Washington at the time, tweeted her condolences, stating, “My sincere condolences go out to the families of those affected by this tragedy.”

As investigations commence, prosecutors from Torre Annunziata have vowed to examine the circumstances leading to the fatal incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future.