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Rescues After Chamonix Cable Car Stops Working

If you have ever taken the Helbronner cable car between Aiguille du Midi and Pointe Helbronner in Chamonix then you know the hazards. Snow storms and high winds often force the lift to close, stopping a fast trip between France and Italy. On Sept. 8, the cables tangled because of weather and the lift stopped.

France, Haute Savoie ,Chamonix, Mont Blanc, Aguille du Midi. Cable car between France and Italy through the Mont Blanc.
Cable car between France and Italy through the Mont Blanc.

Over 100 people were rescued, some on Thursday and some on Friday. More than 30 spent the night in the cable cars dangling above the glacier. During the night a team of five rescuers, three French and two Italian police officers, attempted to reach the trapped tourists. Those still stuck had access to emergency blankets, energy bars and bottles of water in the cars, authorities said. At about 8 a.m. on Friday morning the cable cars were repaired and the remaining people were brought down.

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