A devastating ski lift accident at the Astún ski resort in Spain’s Pyrenees mountains left at least 30 people injured on Saturday, with nine reported in critical condition. The tragedy unfolded around midday, sending shockwaves through the popular resort near the French border.
Eyewitnesses described the terrifying moment when a chairlift malfunction caused chaos. “Suddenly, we heard a sound and fell straight to the ground inside the chair,” Maria Moreno told TVE, Spain’s public broadcaster. “We bounced up and down about five times. Our backs were sore, but others weren’t as lucky. Some people fell completely out of the chairs.”
According to Miguel Angel Clavero, emergencies director for the Aragon region, the disaster stemmed from a failure in the return pulley of one of the chairlifts. This caused the cable to lose tension, resulting in several chairs plummeting to the ground while others remained dangerously suspended in mid-air.
In the immediate aftermath, approximately 80 people were left trapped on the malfunctioning ski lift. Rescue teams worked tirelessly to evacuate the stranded skiers, using helicopters to access some of the more precarious positions. One severely injured woman was airlifted to a nearby hospital, Aragon’s top official Jorge Azcón confirmed.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his shock and solidarity with the victims, extending his thoughts to the injured and their families. Fernando Beltrán, the Spanish government’s representative in Aragon, later confirmed via social media that all trapped skiers had been rescued and were receiving medical attention.
The injured were rushed to local hospitals, with eight reported to have moderate injuries and several others in serious condition. Emergency teams remained on-site to ensure no one was left behind or at risk.
The Astún ski resort, a favorite destination for Spanish skiers, has temporarily closed while authorities investigate the cause of the accident. The resort is located in the Pyrenees mountain range, close to the border with France.
For now, skiers and locals alike are grappling with the aftermath of the tragic incident. As investigations continue, the focus remains on the recovery of those injured and determining the root cause of the malfunction to prevent such disasters in the future.
