4 D.e.a.d, 1 Hospitalized After Cable Car Plummets into Ravine: ‘A Tragic and Painful Day’

Four people were k.i.l.l.e.d. and another was seriously injured when a cable car crashed to the ground in Naples, Southern Italy, on the afternoon of Thursday, April 17, according to local authorities.

Vincenzo DeLuca, the president of the Campania region, where Naples is located, confirmed the tragedy on Instagram, writing, “It was a really tragic and painful day for the Campania because of the tragic accident that occurred on the cable car of [Monte] Faito.”

His statement, which has been translated from the original Italian, continued: “Our first thoughts are with the four people who d.i.e.d. in the accident, to the person hospitalized in serious condition at the Mare Hospital and to all their relatives.”

According to the BBC, two of the four people k.i.l.l.e.d were British tourists, while two were Israeli. The cable car they were in was traveling from the town of Castellammare di Stabia, on the Gulf of Naples, to Monte Faito, about two miles away.

CNN reported that the cable supporting the car snapped in severe weather. The outlet also noted that the cable car plunged into the valley below, hitting a pylon and a crane on a construction site. According to Sky News, the only survivor of the accident is a middle-aged man who is currently in the hospital in critical condition.

As reported by The Guardian, more than 50 firefighters took part in the rescue, with DeLuca praising their efforts. “We are grateful to the rescuers, who intervened in a timely manner and in difficult conditions. They did a commendable job.”