Nine dead in Austrian cable car plunge

VIENNA (Reuters) – Nine people were killed when two cable
cars plunged down a mountain side near the tourist destination
of Soelden, in the west Austrian state of Tyrol, police said on
Monday.

A police spokesman said details had not been confirmed but
it appeared a helicopter was involved in the incident.

A spokeswoman for the Austrian Red Cross said up to 10 more
people had been seriously injured in the accident, which
occurred near a popular Alpine ski area.

Austrian broadcaster ORF reported that a helicopter flying
construction material to the top of the lift had dropped a
piece of concrete on the cables, knocking at least one car off
its wires and causing others to swing violently.

Soelden, in the Oetztal region of Tyrol, is a popular ski
resort both in winter and in summer, when tourists take cable
cars up to glaciers on the peaks above the village.

The lift carried passengers up to the ski area, between
Rettenbach and Tiefenbachferner.