As a result of damage to a chairlift in the Pyrenees, at the Astun ski resort, 30 people were injured, the condition of 17 of them is assessed as serious.
The incident occurred on Saturday morning, January 18. As Spanish media write, citing eyewitnesses, the accident was caused by the breakdown of one of the buckles at the end of the lift. As a result, the chairs began to sway violently up and down, with some of them hitting the ground.
?? #ACTUALIZACIÓN Al menos nueve heridos muy graves y ocho graves en el accidente ocurrido esta mañana en un telesilla en la estación de esquí de Astún.
☎️ Se ha hablitado un teléfono de atención a familiares: 976 71 59 80.https://t.co/M7GlYYnZTT pic.twitter.com/P2Wn1QVsyD
— Aragon Noticias (@AragonNoticias_) January 18, 2025
Nine of the victims are in very serious condition, while the condition of eight is assessed as serious. Four helicopters from Zaragoza, Teruel, the Guardia Civil and Navarre were deployed to provide emergency assistance, Euronews writes. One of the injured women, considered the most serious patient, was transported by helicopter to the Miguel Servet hospital in Zaragoza.
Significant medical resources are deployed: 24 basic life support units, five mobile intensive care units, three advanced life support units with medical staff and 14 conventional ambulances. A field medical center was established at the scene of the incident. The hospitals in the region are receiving victims: Jaca, Huesca, Miguel Servet, University Hospital, Royo Villanova and Barbastro.
The ski resort has been completely evacuated and closed. Aragonese President Jorge Azcon and regional minister Roberto Bermudez de Castro went to the scene of the accident to oversee rescue operations and provide assistance to the victims.
Informado del accidente en la estación de esquí de Astún, me estoy desplazando allí desde Formigal en compañía del consejero Bermúdez de Castro.
Todos los servicios precisos de la DGA trabajan para atender a las personas afectadas y heridas.— Jorge Azcon (@Jorge_Azcon) January 18, 2025
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed words of support in X:
“Shocked by the news of the accident at the #Astun station. I spoke with the President of Aragon, Jorge Azcon, to offer him the full support of the government. All our love and sympathy for the victims and their families.”
Impactado por las noticias del accidente en la estación de #Astún. He hablado con el presidente de Aragon @Jorge_Azcon para ofrecerle todo el apoyo del Gobierno.
Todo nuestro afecto para los heridos y sus familias.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) January 18, 2025
The emergency response operation involves the Civil Guard, civil defense volunteers and civil defense technicians from the Government of Aragon.
Colaboramos en las tareas de auxilio tras un accidente en la estación de esquí de Astún (Huesca) donde se ha descolgado una línea de telesilla de 15 metros de altura. Participan guardias civiles del Grupo de Rescate e Intervención en Montaña, Servicio Aéreo y Seguridad Ciudadana… pic.twitter.com/weioCLGGOc
— Guardia Civil (@guardiacivil) January 18, 2025
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