Passengers riding the cable car during the holiday in Turkey did not expect their outing to turn into a tragedy. One person was killed and seven others were injured, while around 200 others were left stranded in the air when a support column for the cable car system collapsed outside the tourist city of Antalya.
Antalya Mayor Muhittin Böcek stated late Friday evening that rescue operations were underway to save the 184 individuals still trapped in the cabins of the cable car system. He added that helicopters equipped with night vision were called to assist in the rescue efforts, and the specialized teams were on-site, declaring, "We will rescue them all in a short time."
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the deaths and injuries occurred when one of the cabins of the cable car system fell in the Sarisu-Tünektepe area during the column's collapse. Approximately 110 emergency personnel have been dispatched to the scene, along with additional specialized mountain rescuers from other parts of Turkey.
According to information on the cable car company's website, the system includes 36 cabins, each accommodating six people. The ascent to the Tünektepe facility offers expansive views of the city of Antalya. In a related development, Özgür Özel, the leader of the main opposition party, announced that a group of ten opposition deputies is also heading to the site for a detailed investigation, particularly following the circulation of videos of the incident on social media.
