Above the picturesque landscapes of southern Turkey, a tragedy unfolds in the midst of Friday's busy Eid holiday. At around 5:30 p.m., disaster struck the Tunektepe cable car near the city of Antalya, leaving more than 40 passengers trapped in dangerous conditions for more than 19 hours. The disaster occurred after a cable car cabin hit a pole, resulting in a tragic rupture, killing one person and injuring seven.
According to British media on April 13, after the accident, a swift and coordinated rescue operation was launched, and various rescue teams worked around the clock in order to be able to rescue the trapped people in the rugged terrain. As dawn approached, Okay Memis, director of the Turkish search and rescue agency AFAD, provided an update on the ongoing rescue efforts.
Despite daunting challenges, including adverse weather conditions and dwindling daylight, rescuers are steadfast in their efforts.
The disaster took a heavy toll and a 54-year-old Turkish man lost his life in the horrific collision. Among the injured were six Turkish citizens and one from Kyrgyzstan, including two children, whose lives were forever changed by this traumatic event. Amid the chaos, images captured by Turkish media showed the damaged cable car swinging on poles while medical personnel looked after the injured below.
A total of 543 first responders and seven helicopters were mobilized to the scene in response to the crisis, with professionals from various agencies, including AFAD, Coast Guard, Fire Brigade and mountaineering teams from all over Turkey, pooling their expertise and experience.
Friday's tragic events cast a shadow over what was supposed to be a happy ending to what was supposed to be a holiday of Eid in Turkey. As families gather at a seaside resort to celebrate the end of Ramadan, the tranquil journey on the Tunektepe cable car turns into a nightmare, highlighting the fragility of life in nature.
Operated by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, the Tunektepe Cable Car is an important transport hub between Konyaalti Beach and the 618-metre-high summit of Tunektepe Mountain, providing visitors with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Since its completion in 2017, the cable car has undergone rigorous inspections, including a major assessment at the beginning of each year, as well as routine inspections throughout the year to ensure the safety of passengers.
In the aftermath of the disaster, the Antalya Chief Prosecutor's Office launched a thorough investigation to find out the root cause of the accident. An expert committee of mechanical and electrical engineers and health and safety experts was convened to analyse the circumstances surrounding the collision and was firmly committed to preventing similar tragedies from happening again.