Tourists rescued from dangling cable cars above French Alps

World Today

Tourists rescued from dangling cable cars above French Alps

Dozens of tourists, including a 10-year-old child, were stuck for hours in dangling cable cars thousands of meters above the French Alps.

CCTV America’s Frances Kuo has more on the difficult rescue.

The terrifying rescue of hoisting tourists to helicopters high above the French Alps was hampered by poor visibility.

More than 100 people, including a child, were stranded in cable cars. The altitude is more than 3,600 meters (over 11,800 feet).

Overnight, some faced a frightening descent by rope. The rescue operation carried out in the shadow of Mont Blanc, Europe’s tallest mountain.

Rescuers from France, Switzerland and Italy fought to free the rest of the tourists. They also climbed to the cable cars with blankets, warm clothing and food for the frigid night.

Finally, technicians were able to loosen the cables to free the last of those trapped. The final tourists were brought to safety on Friday.

Reports say strong winds may have caused the cables to tangle.