Engelberg is a popular ski resort in central Switzerland.
Keystone-SDA
A gondola cabin crashed to the ground on Wednesday morning in Engelberg, a popular ski resort in central Switzerland, authorities have confirmed. It remains unclear whether anyone was inside the cabin at the time. The cause of the accident is also unknown, though strong winds were reported in the region.
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A Titlisbahnen spokesperson confirmed to the Keystone‑ATS news agency information first reported by Blick online. A video published on the Blick website (seen below) shows the cabin plunging down a snowy slope on Wednesday.
Nidwalden cantonal police have confirmed “an accident”, without giving further details. Emergency services are on the scene. There are reportedly strong winds in the region.
Swiss newspaper 20 Minuten reported that at least one person had
been injured.
According to Blick, the ski lift involved in the incident was the Titlis Xpress Trübsee-Stand gondola, which opened in 2015. The Engelberg resort website says that gondolas on this lift can each carry eight people.
Engelberg-Titlis is the largest ski resort in central Switzerland, offering 82 kilometres of marked runs ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 metres above sea level.
The Xpress Trübsee-Stand connection takes guests to ski slopes at an altitude of around 2,400 metres. The lift is just under 1,900 metres long.
Keystone / Urs Flueeler
Numerous local ski lifts were closed on Wednesday due to strong winds. The Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss) had issued a wind warning of level 2 for “moderate danger”.
Authorities will hold a press conference about the incident in Engelberg at 3pm.
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Adapted from Italian by AI/sb
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