Cable cars failure traps dozens over French Alps

French, Italian and Swiss crews are taking part in a rescue operation, which involves three helicopters

About 60 people remain stuck on a series of cable cars high above the glaciers of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, officials say.

They say initially 110 people were trapped, but 50 were later airlifted out by helicopters. The operation was suspended as night fell.

The cable cars were at "an altitude of about 3,800m (12,468ft)", officials in the Haute-Savoie region said.

The problem was caused by cables that got crossed for "unknown reasons".

The cable cars offer tourists a panoramic view of Mont Blanc (file photo)

"We succeeded in evacuating, in very difficult conditions, 60 people in an hour-and-a-half," the prefect of the Haute-Savoie region, Georges-Francois Leclerc, told AFP news agency. 

"We had to suspend the air transport rescue at nightfall," he added.

It is unclear when the rescue operation will resume.

Mathieu Dechavanne, the head of the cable company, said earlier that the authorities were "in contact with the clients [in the cable cars]".

"They have water and some means of communication but are beginning to find it's taking a long time."

Italian and Swiss crews are taking part in rescue efforts. The operation involves three helicopters.

The cable cars offer tourists a panoramic view of Mont Blanc.

Source: BBC