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Alps cable cars failure 'traps 110' Cable cars failure traps dozens over French Alps
(35 minutes later)
About 110 people have been stuck on a series of cable cars high above the glaciers of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, officials say. About 60 people remain stuck on a series of cable cars high above the glaciers of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, officials say.
A rescue operation is now under way, and reports say dozens of people have already been airlifted by helicopters. They say initially 110 people were trapped, but 50 were later airlifted out by helicopters. The operation was suspended as night fell.
The cable cars were at "an altitude of about 3,800m (12,468ft)", the prefect of the Haute-Savoie region, Georges-Francois Leclerc, told AFP news agency. The cable cars were at "an altitude of about 3,800m (12,468ft)", officials in the Haute-Savoie region said.
The problem was caused by cables that got crossed for "unknown reasons".The problem was caused by cables that got crossed for "unknown reasons".
"We are in contact with the clients [in the cable cars]. They have water and some means of communication but are beginning to find it's taking a long time," Mathieu Dechavanne, the head of the cable company, told AFP news agency. "We succeeded in evacuating, in very difficult conditions, 60 people in an hour-and-a-half," the prefect of the Haute-Savoie region, Georges-Francois Leclerc, told AFP news agency.
Italian and Swiss crews are taking part in the rescue operation, which involves three helicopters. "We had to suspend the air transport rescue at nightfall," he added.
It is unclear when the rescue operation will resume.
Mathieu Dechavanne, the head of the cable company, said earlier that the authorities were "in contact with the clients [in the cable cars]".
"They have water and some means of communication but are beginning to find it's taking a long time."
Italian and Swiss crews are taking part in rescue efforts. The operation involves three helicopters.
The cable cars offer tourists a panoramic view of Mont Blanc.The cable cars offer tourists a panoramic view of Mont Blanc.