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French Alps cable cars rescue bid resumes French Alps cable cars tourists rescued
(about 2 hours later)
An operation to rescue people trapped overnight in a series of cable cars in the French Alps has resumed. At least 33 tourists who spent a cold Thursday night trapped in several cable cars high above the French Alps have been rescued, officials say.
Forty-five tourists spent a cold Thursday night suspended above the glaciers of Mont Blanc at an altitude of about 3,800m (12,468ft). The tourists were suspended above the glaciers of Mont Blanc at an altitude of about 3,800m (12,468ft) after wires carrying the cars became tangled.
They were among 110 people initially trapped when the cable cars ground to a halt on Thursday afternoon.They were among 110 people initially trapped when the cable cars ground to a halt on Thursday afternoon.
It is believed that the cars stopped after cables became tangled in high winds. The cars are believed to have stopped after cables tangled in high winds.
Technicians on Friday morning are trying to untangle the cable cars by loosening the tension of cables holding them. Those trapped overnight were freed on Friday after rescuers managed to restart the cars by relaxing the tension of tangled cables.
Sixty-five people were evacuated by helicopter late on Thursday but the rescue operation had to be suspended on Thursday night when night fell and clouds hampered visibility. Late on Thursday 48 people had been lifted from the cable cars by helicopter, while about 30 travelling in cars closest to the ground had been able to climb down with the help of rescuers using ropes.
"We were forced to suspend operations for safety reasons," said Georges Francois Leclerc, prefect of the Haute-Savoie department. As darkness fell with the weather getting worse, the rescue operation was suspended leaving 33 tourists, one of them a 10-year-old, forced to spend the night suspended in mid-air.
"We hope to get everyone on Friday morning," he said, adding that it was "a very complex operation". Rescuers provided blankets, food and water to help them brave chilly mountain night-time conditions.
The stranded tourists have been given survival blankets, energy bars and bottles of water. "We were in contact with them throughout the night, the people were cold," local police chief Stephane Bozon, told AFP news agency as the rescue operation resumed on Friday.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said first aid workers had spent the night in the cable cars with those trapped.
Local officials said the operation would resume at 06:30 local time (04:30 GMT).
Mathieu Dechavanne, the head of the cable car company, said it appeared that cables had crossed over "for unexplained reasons" but probably due to strong gusts of wind.Mathieu Dechavanne, the head of the cable car company, said it appeared that cables had crossed over "for unexplained reasons" but probably due to strong gusts of wind.
French, Italian and Swiss teams are taking part in rescue efforts and they have three helicopters at their disposal. French, Italian and Swiss teams took part in rescue efforts and they had three helicopters at their disposal.
The cable cars connect the Aiguille de Midi peak in France, at 3,842m (12,605ft), to Pointe Helbronner in Italy, at 3,462m (11,358ft) and offer a panoramic view of Mont Blanc.The cable cars connect the Aiguille de Midi peak in France, at 3,842m (12,605ft), to Pointe Helbronner in Italy, at 3,462m (11,358ft) and offer a panoramic view of Mont Blanc.
Are you at the resort? Did you witness what happened? Were you on one of the cable cars? If it is safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you at the resort? Did you witness what happened? Were you on one of the cable cars? If it is safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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