The last of the 110 passengers trapped in cable cars at an altitude of 3,800 metres near Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix were brought back to an altitude station in the early monring after repairs to tangled cables were completed successfully.
Emergency workers rescued 33 people at first light, including one child, who were stuck in the cars overnight. Four helicopters rescued 65 people from the four-person cable cars before night fell. Another dozen people were evacuated during the night by rescuers using ropes.
The cable cars connect Aiguille du Midi on the French side of the mountains with Pointe Helbronner on the Italian border, where the rescued passengers were taken.
La Compagnie du Mont Blan said the cables had become tangled most likely after an abrupt halt to the system or in strong winds.
Weather conditions were at first good but later turned cloudy during the rescue operation at an altitude of 3,800m, which involved three helicopters from Switzerland, France and Italy. The €58.50 panoramic ride usually takes 30 minutes to complete in two stages of 20 minutes and 10 minutes.
