Tourists Evacuated By Helicopter After Cable Car Breakdown In Les Diablerets

A cable car breakdown in the Swiss ski resort of Les Diablerets has left dozens of tourists stranded at an altitude of 3,000 meters.

The breakdown occurred on Thursday morning, when the second cable car of the Glacier 3000 resort stopped working. Tourists at the resort's restaurant were unable to return to the valley and had to be evacuated by helicopter.

The cause of the breakdown is still under investigation. However, the resort's website says that it was due to a "technical problem."

"There was an electrical failure in the engine system in the second (cable car) section up to the top," Glacier 3000 chief executive Bernhard Tschannen told AFP.

"It was not a big deal. No one was harmed," he said.

"The weather was beautiful," Mr Tschannen said, adding that people had been provided drinks and food at the mountaintop restaurant while they waited.

The resort was closed for the day on Thursday, but it is expected to reopen on Friday.

The breakdown is the latest in a series of incidents at Swiss cable cars. In 2018, a cable car accident in Grindelwald killed 15 people. And in 2017, a cable car in Zermatt caught fire, but no one was injured.

Swiss authorities have been working to improve safety at cable cars in the country. However, the latest breakdown has raised concerns about the safety of the Swiss cable car system.

In a statement, the Glacier 3000 resort said that it is "deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused to our guests." The resort said that it is "committed to the safety of our guests and staff" and that it is "taking all necessary steps to prevent this from happening again."

The breakdown is a reminder of the risks associated with cable car travel. However, it is also important to remember that cable cars are a safe way to travel, and that incidents like this are very rare.