17.09.2025 14:50
A cable car accident occurred on Mount Elbrus in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic of Russia. As a result of the accident, 3 people lost their lives and 9 others were injured. It was reported that the cabins crashed into the rocks after the cable broke, and there were passengers inside. Following the accident, 25 tourists were stranded on the mountain. An investigation was launched due to safety violations. The CEO and chief technician of the cable car company were detained.
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Three people died and nine were injured in a cable car accident on Mount Elbrus, Russia's highest peak.
The accident occurred on September 12 in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic in the North Caucasus. At the time, there were 37 people on the cable car. Authorities stated that the cabins crashed into the rocks due to the cable breaking, and there were passengers inside.
While nine people were hospitalized with injuries, three lost their lives at the scene. After the accident, 25 tourists were stranded on the mountain; they had to spend the night in shelters under cold weather conditions as they did not have bags or warm clothing with them.
The cable car was the final stage of a line dating back to the Soviet era and was operated by the MKD Elbrus company. The line transported tourists and climbers to a base camp located approximately 3,700 meters above sea level.
The Investigative Committee of Russia, which investigates serious crimes, launched an investigation into safety violations following the accident. According to local reports, the CEO and chief technician of the cable car company were detained; the specific charges they face are not yet clear.
Investigators stated that the accident occurred during maintenance work on the line and that it was prohibited to board the cable car at that time. The Republic's Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that the notification of the accident reached emergency units at 15:30 Moscow time. The ministry stated, "The modern cable car is undergoing routine maintenance from September 3 to 24 as part of winter season preparations."
The cable car line was built in the 1970s and is currently being examined by experts following the accident. The technical rooms at the stations have been sealed, and services have been suspended.
This accident came after another cable car collapse at a different Russian resort last month. In that incident, four people fell into a pond, while six others hit the ground, resulting in a total of a dozen injuries; however, there were no fatalities.
Footage shows the cabins suddenly falling and passengers screaming. CCTV cameras recorded the moments when the cabins fell into the pond. It is estimated that people fell from a height of about two meters.
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