Analysis of medical evacuation following the Tünektepe cable car accident in Turkey in 2024

Background: The Tünektepe Touristic Cable Car accident happened on 12 April 2024, when a support pole collapsed, causing the nearest cabin to crash to the ground. One cabin fell to the ground, while 35 others were left suspended in the air. This study aims to analyze the demographic characteristics and medical conditions of the 182 victims of the accident. Methods: Transportation records and other related documents were analyzed retrospectively. The demographic data, clinical symptoms, Injury Severity Scores (ISS), medications administered, and prognoses of the accident victims were examined separately. Results: Rescue efforts lasted 23 hours, and the mean age of the victims was 32 years. One person (0.54%) died at the scene, 20 people (11%) sustained injuries, and 161 people (89%) were asymptomatic. The fatality was attributed to severe head and neck trauma. Among the rescued patients, 14 (7.7%) sustained extremity injuries. ISS distribution was as follows: nine patients (43%) scored 1, four (19%) scored 4, two (9.5%) scored 13, two (9.5%) scored 10, one (4.7%) scored 50, one (4.7%) scored 25, one (4.7%) scored 9, and one (4.7%) scored 0. Triage codes included (5%) black,(10%) red, (40%) yellow, and (50%) green cases. Patients in the impacted cabin most frequently suffered extremity and spinal fractures due to being thrown and then falling from a height. In contrast, patients in the stranded cabins presented only with soft tissue injuries to the extremities, without fractures, and all were discharged directly from the emergency department. Conclusions: Cable car accidents are rare. Effective evacuation requires highly trained personnel, appropriate equipment, and careful planning.

Cable car; Cable car accident; Aerial evacuation; Injury severity score

[1] Aydemir A. Its length is 1706 meters: it is in Antalya, not in Europe. 2017. Available at: https://arsiv.turkiyegazetesi.com.tr/yasam/uzunlugu-1706-metre-avrupada-degil-antalyada-444379 (Accessed: 21 May 2025).

[2] Antalya Governorship of the Republic of Turkey. Press release—regarding the cable car accident. 2024. Available at: http://www.antalya.gov.tr/basin-aciklamasi---teleferik-kazasi-hakkinda (Accessed: 21 May 2025).

[3] Mohd Daud SMS, Mohd Yusof MYP, Heo CC, Khoo LS, Chainchel Singh MK, Mahmood MS, et al. Applications of drone in disaster management: a scoping review. Science & Justice. 2022; 62: 30–42.

[4] Vincent-Lambert C, Pretorius A, Van Tonder B. Use of unmanned aerial vehicles in wilderness search and rescue operations: a scoping review. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. 2023; 34: 580–588.

[5] Adade R, Aibinu AM, Ekumah B, Asaana J. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) applications in coastal zone management—a review. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 2021; 193: 154.

[6] Bushnaq OM, Mishra D, Natalizio E, Akyildiz IF. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for disaster management. In Bushnaq OM, Mishra D, Natalizio E, Akyildiz IF (eds.) Nanotechnology-Based Smart Remote Sensing Networks for Disaster Prevention (pp. 159–188). 1st edn. Elsevier: United Arab Rmirates. 2022.

[7] Elçin S, Gülsem A. The expert report on the cable car accident in Antalya has been completed. 2024. Available at: https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/gundem/antalyadaki-teleferik-kazasiyla-ilgili-bilirkisi-raporu-tamamlandi/3209981 (Accessed: 21 May 2025).

[8] Official Gazette 31491. Regulation on health services in disasters and emergencies. 2021. Available at: https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2021/05/20210525-3.htm (Accessed: 21 May 2025).

[9] Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey. Organization chart of the general directorate of emergency health services. 2024. Available at: https://acilafet.saglik.gov.tr/TR-4185/teskilat-semasi.html (Accessed: 21 May 2025).

[10] Republic of Turkey Ministry of Internal Affairs, Diseaster and Emergency Management Presidency. Turkey’s disaster response plan. 2024. Available at: https://www.afad.gov.tr/turkiye-afet-mudahale-plani (Accessed: 21 May 2025).

[11] Du Z, Wang T. Prehospital factors influencing patients’ injury severity score who fell from height. Journal of Peking University. 2024; 56: 1065–1068. (In Chinese)

[12] Ketenci HÇ, Büyük Y. The primitive cable car (varangel) accident-related fatalities: a retrospective autopsy study. Turkish Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery. 2021; 27: 331–336.

[13] Gunduz A, Turedi S, Topbas M, Tekinbas C, Nuhoglu I. Primitive transport vehicle (varangele) accidents. Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2009; 36: 402–403.

[14] Leggat PA, Frances WL. Reported fatal and non-fatal incidents involving tourists in Thailand, July 1997–June 1999. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2003; 1: 107–113.

[15] Meyer HJ. The Kaprun cable car fire disaster—aspects of forensic organization following a mass fatality with 155 victims. Forensic Science International. 2003; 138: 1–7.

[16] Shinde VV, Arora KC. Aspects of materials handling. 1st edn. Laxmi Publications: New Delhi. 2015.

[17] Han PD, Gao D, Liu J, Lou J, Tian SJ, Lian HX, et al. Medical services for sports injuries and illnesses in the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. World Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2022; 13: 459–466.

[18] Official Gazette 30258. Turkish Standards Institute, Cable Transport Installation Regulatıon. 2017. Available at: https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2017/12/20171202-1.htm (Accessed: 21 May 2025).

[19] Ozlu T, Caglak S, Samlioglu H. Cable car installation and the impact of its usage on social life and economy in the Ardesen (Rize) region. The Journal of International Social Research. 2014; 7: 350–364.

[20] Foreign news service. Cable car disaster in Italy! Cable breaks, cabin falls: 4 dead. 2025. Available at: https://www.milliyet.com.tr/dunya/italyada-teleferik-kabini-dustu-4-olu-7353382#:~:text=Teleferik%20kabini%20metrelerce%20yükseklikten%20aşağı,telin%20kopmasıyla%20telererik%20yere%20çakıldı.&text=Yerel%20medyada%20yer%20alan%20haberlere,koşulları%20nedeniyle%20meydana%20geldiği%20bildirildi (Accessed: 21 May 2025).

[21] Kadlec P. Cavalese cable car crash. 2025. Available at: https://en-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/1976_Cavalese_cable_car_crash?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=tr&_x_tr_hl=tr&_x_tr_pto=tc#cite_ref-6 (Accessed: 21 May 2025).

[22] Delfino, GF. Can politicians jeopardize public-private partnerships? The case of the mottarone cable car crash. Public Administration Review. 2022; 82: 1192–1197.

[23] Betuš M, Konček M, Šofranko M, Wittenberger G, Čambál J. Proposal of an effective way of rescuing people from a cable car. Journal of Disaster Research. 2024; 19: 849–864.