Night-vision helicopters deployed for citizens in cable car disaster

Those stranded in cabins due to an accident at the Tünektepe Cable Car Facility in Antalya's Konyaaltı district are being rescued with the help of night-vision helicopters.

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Night-vision helicopters deployed for citizens in cable car disaster

Rescue efforts for those stranded in the cabins following an accident caused by the collapse of one of the facility's pylons are continuing with the support of night-vision helicopters.

According to a statement from the Antalya Governor's Office, 59 people have been evacuated from 10 cabins, with 18 of them rescued by helicopter. Evacuation efforts are ongoing for the remaining 14 cabins.

The AA team following the operations in the region obtained footage of the gendarmerie helicopter, which has night-flight capability, rescuing the stranded citizens.

The footage shows a basket being lowered from the helicopter to the cabin via a rope, the rescue of the victims in this manner, and the rescued individuals thanking the teams.

On the other hand, citizens rescued by helicopter are first undergoing health checks.

İbrahim Yusuf Yüksel, one of the citizens rescued by the teams, told an AA reporter that they had come to Antalya from Konya for a vacation.

Stating that he boarded the cable car with his family of 7, Yüksel said, "The cable car stopped suddenly, and we were stranded; we never expected something like this to happen. The teams came and rescued us. We landed on the ground by helicopter. Thank God we are fine, we have no problems."

THOSE STRANDED WAIT TO BE RESCUED

Meanwhile, the relatives of the stranded citizens are also waiting to reunite with their loved ones as soon as possible.

Özkan Sumur, whose wife, children, brother, and nieces are stranded, said he learned about the accident after his wife called him.

Stating that 11 of his relatives are stranded, Sumur said, "There are children aged 3, 5, 10, and 12 among them. At first, they were scared, but now we have calmed them down a bit. They are experiencing hunger and toilet issues. They are also cold," he said.

Sumur had a video call with his uncle, who is in the cabin. Explaining that the rescue teams are working and will save them as soon as possible, Sumur also received information from his uncle about the condition of his relatives in the cabin. His uncle said that his wife was occasionally feeling unwell due to a panic attack and that they were waiting to be rescued as soon as possible.

STATEMENT FROM AFAD

The Antalya Provincial Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) reported that evacuation efforts for 102 people in 13 cabins suspended in the air due to the cable car accident are continuing.

In the statement made by AFAD, it was stated that upon a report received by the 112 Emergency Call Center yesterday at 17:28, information was received that 1 pylon (the 5th pylon) had broken at the tourist cable car in the Tünektepe location of the Konyaaltı district, causing 25 cabins to be suspended in the air, 1 cabin to be damaged, and 184 people to be stranded.

Recalling that 7 citizens were reached as injured and Memiş Gümüş (54) as deceased from the damaged cabin, the statement noted the following:

"All of the injured were evacuated to hospitals by the Coast Guard Command helicopter. The evacuation of 74 citizens (30 people by air) in 11 accessible cabins has been carried out by the teams.

6 of the evacuated individuals were transferred to hospitals by ambulance. Evacuation efforts for 102 people in 13 cabins suspended in the air are continuing. The Provincial AFAD Center was established at the Coast Guard Command near the cable car command center, under the chairmanship of Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin and with the participation of the highest-ranking officials of the relevant institutions."

The statement reported that rescue efforts are continuing with 2 helicopters, 62 vehicles, and 225 personnel, and that teams totaling 73 people from other provincial AFAD directorates have set out to provide support.

News Source: AA