A catastrophic accident on the Tunektepe cable car system near the Mediterranean city of Antalya, Turkey left 174 passengers stranded for nearly 23 hours, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 12, 2024. The immense rescue effort, involving over 607 personnel and ten helicopters, including those with night vision capabilities, successfully ended by Saturday afternoon.
The unfortunate incident unfolded when one of the cable car pods hit a damaged pole, causing it to break open and throw its inhabitants onto the rugged mountainside below. The impact resulted in the death of a 54-year-old Turkish man and injured at least seven others, including two children. The region, usually lively during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, transformed into a hub of emergency activity.
Ali Yerlikaya, the Interior Minister, revealed that the rescue operation involved various teams, including Turkey’s emergency response agency, AFAD, the Coast Guard, firefighting units, and mountain rescue groups from across the country. He underscored the crucial role of night-vision helicopters during the rescue efforts after dark.
The terrifying ordeal was especially distressing for the trapped passengers. Hatice Polat, an Istanbul resident, recalled the chilling moments when the power cut off, and the cabin started to flip repeatedly. “There were children with us who fainted,” Polat told local media. “Being trapped up there for seven hours was agonizing. The constant swaying put us in perpetual fear… It was an extremely traumatic experience, and I’m not sure how we will recover from this trauma.”
The expansive rescue operation saw a combination of 607 search and rescue staff working relentlessly alongside ten helicopters to ensure the safe evacuation of all stranded individuals. This included two critically injured children who were rescued by Coast Guard helicopters.
According to the website of the cable car system, built in 2017, it consists of 36 cabins or pods, each capable of carrying six passengers. The typical journey to the Tunektepe facility, which provides a panoramic view of Antalya from over 2,000 feet, lasts about nine minutes. Twenty-four cabins were suspended at the time of the incident.
As the probe into the incident continues, Turkish prosecutors have detained 13 people connected with the operation and maintenance of the cable car, citing negligence in the system’s maintenance. Early reports indicate that the tragedy resulted from corrosion and damage at the carrier poles and the rolling system’s connection points, raising questions about the operating company’s routine maintenance and safety checks.
The challenging terrain and mechanical difficulties added to the complexity of the rescue operation. “Our teams worked under extremely challenging conditions, but their dedication and the sophisticated equipment available, including helicopters with night-vision capabilities, played a pivotal role in the success of this operation,” an AFAD official stated.
Local authorities have committed to conducting a comprehensive review of all similar systems in the region to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
