iStock/Thinkstock(CHAMONIX, France) — Dozens of people will be forced to spend the night in a number of cable cars that are stuck high up in the French Alps after rescue efforts were suspended for the evening, according to French National Police.
Rescuers were working to evacuate 110 people from several stranded cable cars in the resort area of Chamonix, authorities said. A total of 65 people were rescued, but many remain. Those who were left behind have food and blankets and are accompanied by rescuers, police said.
The cars were at an elevation of about 3,000 meters — or about 1.6 miles — an official at the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc, the company that owns and operates the cable cars, told ABC News. Three of the cables carrying the cars tangled, which led them to stop suddenly, the company said. The accident could have been caused by the wind.
A technical team from the company was unable to repair the cables and decided to call the mountain police rescuers.
Some of the stranded passengers had been rescued by helicopters operated by both French and Italian first responders, Eric Fournier, Mayor of Chamonix, said on French television. The cable cars are located between two mountains — Aiguille du Midi and Pointe Helbronner — mountain police rescuers in Chamonix confirmed to ABC News.
Both of the peaks are in the shadow of the famed Mont Blanc.
It was unclear if there were injuries or exactly how many cars are stuck.
Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.