The tragedy occurred in the Pyrenean resort of Astun, near the border with France.
A chairlift accident left around thirty people injured, some of them very serious, on Saturday. The tragedy occurred in the Pyrenean resort of Astun, near the border with France.
According to local authorities, a problem with the pulley of one of the chairlifts led to a loss of tension in the cable.
A young witness, still overcome with emotion, recounts: “All of a sudden the whole chairlift started bouncing, chairlifts were flying off, people were flying away!”
A woman, considered the most critical patient, was transferred by helicopter to the Miguel Servet Hospital in Zaragoza. Four helicopters from Zaragoza, Teruel, the Guardia Civil and Navarra, as well as around fifteen ambulances were mobilized.
A field hospital was also set up.
Hospitals in the region, including Jaca, Huesca, Miguel Servet, Clínico Universitario, Royo Villanova and Barbastro, were activated to accommodate the injured. Additional medical personnel are available to be deployed if needed.
The ski resort was completely evacuated and closed. The president of the Aragon region, Jorge Azcón, and the regional minister of the presidency, Roberto Bermúdez de Castro, visited the scene of the accident to supervise the rescue operations.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also showed his support in a post on X.
The emergency operation also benefits from the presence of the Guardia Civil, Civil Protection Volunteers and Civil Protection Technicians from the Government of Aragon, who work together to deal with this emergency situation.
