Japan: Skiers trapped in 12-hour lift ordeal
Ninety skiers were left dangling in mid-air – some for nearly 12 hours – after a ski lift broke down in central Japan, police said today.
Rescuers climbed a snow-covered slope at the Ontake ski resort in Nagano prefecture (state), forced open the doors of 17 of the gondola cars and lowered the passengers by rope one at a time to the ground about 20 yards below, said police spokeswoman Akiko Fuseya.
The 26 other six-seat gondolas had been vacant when the ski lift system broke down yesterday.
The last trapped passenger was rescued late at night, nearly 12 hours after the breakdown was reported to police.
The ski lift’s 1.5-mile-long cable apparently came loose from a pulley, Ms Fuseya said.
She said police were conducting an investigation at the scene.
No injuries were reported, but a 33-year-old woman said she felt ill and was taken to a nearby hospital.
