Dear Editor:
A cable car is defined as a cable transport system in which carriers are suspended and pushed forward by one or more cables. 1 Ropeways, which were first developed for freight transport in general, have started to be used for human transport, that is, for transport purposes in later times.Reference Težak, Sever and Lep 2 –Reference Biberos-Bendezú and Vázquez-Rowe 6 In the literature, it is stated that the transport system with the cable car system is a comfortable, sustainable, and reliable transport system.Reference Oplatka 7 –Reference Escobar, Sarache and Jiménez-Riaño 10 However, due to the problems experienced in cable car lines, it has been evaluated that rare cable car accidents may cause serious consequences.Reference Sato, Chishima and Hiki 11 –Reference Ersunan, Bılır and Balık 13 The limited literature on rescue operations carried out in cable car accidents, which occur rarely, has been an important factor that led the researchers to this study. In this context, it was evaluated that the evaluation of the data related to the cable car accident in Türkiye in 2024, in which the rescue operation lasted approximately 24 hours, is important and will prepare the ground for future studies. In the statements reflected in the press, the cause of the cable car accident in Türkiye in 2024, in which one person lost his life and seven people were injured, was a result of the bolts on the pole breaking.Reference Özmüş 14 , 15 As a result of the accident, 174 people trapped in 36 cabins were rescued in 23 hours of work. 16 It was stated that 2202 personnel, including 607 search and rescue personnel, took part in the rescue operation, and 304 vehicles, including 11 ambulances, 10 helicopters, drones with night vision capability, and reconnaissance and military cargo aircraft were used in the operations. 17 , 18 It can be assessed that the rescue operation was carried out in compliance with the general rules to be observed in rescue operations on cable car lines (implementation of safety protocols, dispatch of trained and equipped teams, continuity of communication and coordination, ensuring the safety of the victims, evaluation and reporting of the operation).Reference Olgun and Kazası 12
As a result, when the number of people killed, injured, and trapped, the management and duration of the search and rescue operation, and the number of personnel involved in the rescue operation are considered, it is understood how serious the cable car accident was. Therefore, it is thought that it is important for search and rescue personnel to be prepared for such specific accidents and to develop or update rescue procedures. Therefore, it is anticipated that scientific reporting of such accidents will contribute significantly to the creation of new procedures for cable car and similar incidents, the organization of training for personnel for specific incidents, and the future studies of researchers on this subject.
Acknowledgments
Not applicable.
Author contribution
G.U Conceptualization, Investigation Methodology, Validation, Writing–original Draft. K.T Conceptualization, Data Curation, Investigation; Methodology, Supervision; Validation, Writing–original Draft. F.G Conceptualization, Data curation, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Writing– original Draft. E.A Conceptualization, Data Curation, Investigation, Methodology, Validation.
Funding statement
Non-declared.
Competing interest
None declared.
