Four dead in cable car accident: tragedy near Naples shakes Italy!

Four dead in cable car accident: tragedy near Naples shakes Italy!

On the evening of April 17, 2025, Di Stabia, southern Italy, died in a tragic cable car accident in which four people died. The accident occurred around 7:35 p.m. when a cable of the cable car broke. At the time of the incident, there were five people in the affected gondola, which plunged into an abyss shortly before the mountain station, at around 1,200 meters. Another person from the gondola suffered serious injuries, while the identity of the victims has so far not been announced by the authorities.

The only ray of hope was in this tragic situation that the rescue work was still underway, but were severely difficult due to dense fog and adverse weather conditions. Three other cabins of the cable car, in which more than a dozen passengers sat, hung in the air and had to be saved with ropes. Rescue helicopters were also used to free the people concerned from the cabins.

historical context and safety aspects

The cable car, which has been in operation since 1952, offers a spectacular panoramic view between the sea and mountains and attracted around 113,000 visitors in 2024. This incident is not the first fatal incident in the history of the cable car. Another tragic accident occurred in August 1960, in which four people also died. The current tragedy also commemorates the cable car accident on Lake Maggiore in May 2021, in which 14 people died due to blocked emergency brakes. The need to constantly check the safety standards of cable cars is underlined again.

Experts recommend that cable cars that offer summer activities regularly have their facilities remove from experts. The aim is to preserve the "Certified summer operation" approval, which increases the safety of the guests and can have a positive impact on the image of the company. Such measures could help avoid similar accidents and to ensure the obligation to ensure traffic safety.

Despite the tragic events in Castellammare di Stabia, it is crucial that cable car operators deal intensively with security questions and adhere to professional standards. This is the only way to secure the trust of the guests in the long term. The incident raises questions about the safety of cable cars in general and affects many summer activities that are offered on the mountain regions.

For more information about the tragic accident and the ongoing rescue work, you can report the reporting of vienna.at and welt.de consult. Also the Seilbahnen.org offers valuable information about security standards and seal of approval in the industry.