Electrical fault in Quito cable car strands 75 people

A total of 75 individuals were affected when the Quito Cable Car experienced an electrical issue, resulting in the suspension of the system.

Among them, 27 people were trapped in the cabins, prompting a complex rescue operation that lasted approximately eleven hours throughout the night.

The rescue mission successfully freed all those stranded without any reported injuries.

By 3:00 AM local time, the operation restored the cable car’s functionality, which ascended from an altitude of 3,117 meters to 3,917 meters along a steep slope leading to the peak of the Pichincha volcano.

Out of the 75 affected individuals, 48 were evacuated from the upper station, while 17 were rescued from the cabins.

An additional 10 individuals were able to exit once the system was reactivated, expediting and facilitating the rescue efforts.

Mayor Pabel Muñoz expressed his indignation at the lack of a clear, efficient, and safe protocol from the cable car’s private company.

The incident occurred at 4:30 PM local time, but the company did not inform the integrated emergency service until 6:03 PM, just before nightfall.

Firefighters were eventually called to extract the trapped individuals from the cabins after unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue by the operator until 8:00 PM.

Muñoz commended the rescue teams consisting of firefighters, municipal agents, and police officers for their courageous efforts in accessing the cabins.

As a precautionary measure, the Quito Cable Car has been temporarily closed until assurances are obtained to prevent a similar incident in the future.

Since its inauguration in 2005, the cable car has been a popular tourist attraction in the Ecuadorian capital, providing panoramic views of the city from high altitudes.

The cable car ride covers a distance of 2.5 kilometers and takes approximately 18 minutes, encompassing an elevation difference of about 1,000 meters.