Spanish Ski Lift accident: 11-year-old girl among dozens injured after lift collapses in the Pyrenees

On January 18, 2025, a significant accident involving a major ski lift happened at the Astún ski resort in the Spanish Pyrenees, where at least 30 people were injured. It happened around 11:50 AM local time when a breakdown caused the chairlift to break and throw some skiers from their seats and suspend many others up to 15 meters or about 50 feet above ground.

According to the emergency services reports, 10 people were taken to hospitals, two of whom were in critical condition. Among the victims were an 11-year-old girl two women of 18 years, and a 67-year woman, all seriously injured, according to The Sun.

One witness speaking to TV channel TVE said,

"It's like a cable came off, the chairs bounced and people were thrown off."

Though local media reported 30 injuries, a press release from the Astún ski resort reported 15 injuries, including 3 of them serious

The statement quoted:

“The causes of the accident are unknown and are currently being investigated. The facility has all the permits and inspections. The protocols for rescue and transfer of injured people have worked correctly, with all users of the lift being evacuated in two and a half hours.”

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Rescue operations of Astún ski resort

A number of helicopters have been sent for rescue efforts, which will encompass evacuation for those left injured and assisting those still trapped on the lift. TVE reported that approximately 80 people were reportedly stuck on the chairlift when the accident occurred.

Pictures of skiers lying in the snow below the lift spread on social media, with rescue teams working hard to save everyone. All were evacuated from the lift at approximately 2 PM local time.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his shock by the incident as he extended his support to the victims and their families.

Regional President Jorge Azcón took to X to state:

"All the necessary services of the [government] are working to assist the affected and injured people."

As per Independent, Fernando Beltrán, a representative of Spain’s government in Aragon, confirmed via a post on X that "all the skiers affected by the accident" had been evacuated and were receiving medical treatment. He emphasized that emergency authorities were actively managing the situation and ensuring that all injured individuals received care.

Psychologists were dispatched to help those traumatized by the event, DW reports.

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Investigation

The cause of the malfunction at the ski lift is still under investigation. Preliminary reports indicate that a pulley may have broken loose, causing a loss in cable tension, and several chairs had fallen while others were suspended in mid-air.

A statement from the management of this ski resort said that they have begun to cooperate with the authorities to determine the exact circumstances surrounding this tragic event.