TWO teenage women are in intensive care after a ski lift pulley broke at a Spanish ski resort, sending riders plunging from their chairs.
An incident at the Astún ski resort in Huesca has resulted in at least 30 individuals sustaining injuries and numerous people being stranded. Emergency services and helicopters are swiftly mobilizing to aid those affected by the calamity.
Regional officials confirmed that nine people suffered critical injuries and eight were seriously hurt.
It is now understood that two teen women are intensive care, the BBC reported.
One of the women, described as the most seriously injured, was airlifted to a nearby hospital for urgent care.
Meanwhile around 80 skiers and snowboarders have been left dangling from the chairs of the lift while a mass evacuation takes place.
The Civil Guard confirmed that the accident occurred when a chairlift line “fell off” due to a problem with the cable which lost tension.
This sent the chairlift plunging from a height of 15 metres.
Amidst the turmoil, a survivor recounted to a Spanish television station, “It seems that a pulley wheel broke or became detached, causing the cable to behave erratically, making us ascend and descend each time it occurred.
“Fortunately, we managed to avoid hitting the ground, but unfortunately, there were individuals in front of us who were not as lucky and suffered impacts to their faces and other parts of their bodies.
Another witness said people were flung into the air as the chairlifts bounced up and down.
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez said in a tweet: “Shocked by the news of the accident at Astun ski resort.
“I have spoken to Aragon president Jorge Azcon to offer him the government’s full support.”
The resort stopped operating due to the horror incident on the Canal Roya runway.
All hospitals in the vicinity were notified and put on alert to receive the injured while a field hospital was reportedly set up in the area to carry out initial triage.
Four helicopters were dispatched to the site, along with firefighters and a whopping 56 ambulances.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was “shocked by the news of the accident”.
He said: “All our affection to the injured and their families.”
Meanwhile President of the government of Aragon Jorge Azcón said on X that he was travelling to the scene of the accident.
Azcón said on X: “All the necessary services of the DGA are working to assist the affected and injured people.”
The Spanish prime minister also said he had talked with Azcón to “offer him the full support of the government”.
A phone line has been set up for the families of those affected.
