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Cable cars failure traps dozens over French Alps Cable cars failure traps dozens over French Alps
(35 minutes later)
About 60 people remain stuck on a series of cable cars high above the glaciers of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, officials say. Forty-five people remain stuck on a series of cable cars high above the glaciers of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, a local official has said.
They say initially 110 people were trapped, but 50 were later airlifted out by helicopters. The operation was suspended as night fell. Georges-Francois Leclerc, the prefect of the Haute-Savoie region, says initially 110 people were trapped, but 65 were airlifted out by helicopters.
The cable cars were at "an altitude of about 3,800m (12,468ft)", officials in the Haute-Savoie region said. The operation was suspended as night fell and will resume in the morning.
The cable cars are at "an altitude of about 3,800m (12,468ft)", officials 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 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. "We succeeded in evacuating, in very difficult conditions, 60 people in an hour-and-a-half," Mr Leclerc, told AFP news agency.
"We had to suspend the air transport rescue at nightfall," he added."We had to suspend the air transport rescue at nightfall," he added.
It is unclear when the rescue operation will resume. Local officials said the operation would resume at 06:30 local time (04:30 GMT) on Friday.
Mathieu Dechavanne, the head of the cable company, said earlier that the authorities were "in contact with the clients [in the cable cars]".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.""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.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.