Why does the gondola kill me

The younger child, estimated to be 5 years old, was conscious on arrival and was undergoing surgery to stabilise multiple fractures, La Valle said.

The Stresa-Mottarone lift had only recently re-opened following the gradual lifting of coronavirus restrictions. Especially now that we were just beginning to restart after the pandemic ," Severino said. The Mottarone peak is popular among tourists because of its panoramic views on Lake Maggiore and its picturesque islands as well as the vista of the surrounding Alps. The cable car service first opened in August after almost three years of works to replace a cog railway, its website said.

The dual cable system is split into two sections, just over two kilometres between Stresa and Alpino and another three kilometres between Alpino and Mottarone. It consist of two cars - in alternate directions - with each one carrying up to 40 passengers, it added. The car then crashed into a wooded area with no direct road access. Rescuers work by the wreckage of a cable car after it collapsed near the summit of the Stresa-Mottarone line in the Piedmont region, northern Italy, Sunday, May 23, Helicopters lowered alpine rescuers to the crash site and lifted out the victims.

Authorities believe 15 passengers were riding on the cable car at the time of the crash, including two children. Read More. The other child remains in a critical condition, according to the rescue group. Officials had earlier said both children survived with injuries. A photograph of the crash site, posted by Italy's national fire brigade, shows first responders surrounding the mangled cable car near broken trees and severed cables.

A spokesperson for the fire brigade said the death toll could rise. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi expressed his sympathy to loved ones of the deceased in a statement Sunday. I express the condolences on behalf of the whole government to the families of the victims, with a special thought for the children who were seriously injured and their families," the statement read. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi described the crash as a "tragic accident" and said he was receiving updates from local and national officials.

Infrastructure Minister Enrico Giovannini has announced an inquiry into the incident with a local prosecutor's office also opening an investigation. EU Council President Charles Michel offered his condolences to the victims' loved ones in a tweet written in Italian, adding that "Europe is in mourning with you".

The website for the Stresa-Alpine-Mottarone service said it usually takes 20 minutes to transport passengers 1,m above sea level. The cable car originally opened in and was closed for maintenance between and Mottarone is situated between Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta, offering scenic views of the region for tourists.

Each cable car can usually hold about 40 passengers. The service had recently reopened following the lifting of coronavirus restrictions. Are you in the area? If it is safe to do so, share your experiences. Email haveyoursay bbc. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist.

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