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Dozens trapped over Rhine River in Cologne skyway

Fire crews on Sunday evacuated up to 100 passengers stuck in suspended cable cars running over the Rhine River in the western German city of Cologne after a gondola crashed into a support pillar.

Authorities said 32 cars were operating when the incident occurred.

Passengers were trapped in the gondolas for roughly two hours before fire crews arrived at the scene, according to local media reports.

Fire crews managed to evacuate all the passengers safely. Transport officials said the cable cars will receive a new public safety inspection to ensure the skyway adheres to safety standards.

The gondolas have been running over the Rhine River for 60 years.

The last safety incident on Cologne’s cable car system happened in October 2014, when a strong wind jolted one of the gondolas, trapping a family inside.


ls/tj (dpa, AP)

Article source: http://www.dw.com/en/dozens-trapped-over-rhine-river-in-cologne-skyway/a-39899227?maca=en-rss-en-ger-1023-xml-atom