Ski lift collapse in Spain injures at least 30 people

At least 30 people are reported to have been injured after a ski lift partially collapsed in northern Spain.

The Astún resort in the Spanish Pyrenees, where the incident happened, was closed as rescue services attended the scene.

Images and video circulating on social media showed a number of people lying on the snow beneath the ski lift.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was "shocked" by the news of the incident.

A pulley at one end of the chairlift came loose and part of the structure supporting it collapsed, causing a cable to lose tension and several seats to fall, according to state broadcaster TVE.

Seventeen people needed medical attention, local media reported.

Ambulances and helicopters took some of the injured to hospital.

Dozens of people left hanging on the 15m (50ft) high chairlift have since been rescued.

Jaime Pelegri, who was on the lift, told the BBC that a cable lost tension before the chairs on his side of the structure fell.

"It was very scary, but very fast," he said - adding that ambulances and helicopters arrived at the scene within 15 minutes.

Previously in a post on X: "Luckily we are fine but there are injured people, we have seen several stretchers coming down."

Miguel Ángel Clavero, the director of emergencies for the Aragon region, where the incident occurred, told TVE: "We are talking about around 30 to 35 people injured, including serious, very serious and less serious injuries.

"Apparently, there was a failure in the return pulley of one of the chairlifts and this caused the cable to lose tension, causing some chairs to fall and others to remain hanging," he said.

Images on social media appear to show one of the chairlift's flywheels off its upright. The cause of the incident is not yet known.

Regional President Jorge Azcón and Spain's Minister of the Interior Roberto Bermúdez de Castro went to the scene.

Azcón wrote on X: "All the necessary services of the [government] are working to assist the affected and injured people."

PM Pedro Sánchez said he had spoken with Azcón to offer the "full support" of the government.

A telephone line has been set up for the families of those affected.

The Astún resort, which is popular with skiers, is located in the Aragon region of the Pyrenees mountains, near the border with France.

Did you witness this at Astún? Get in touch here.