Dozens Stranded on Haifa Cable Car After Technical Fault; Rescue Underway
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Dozens of people were stranded for over an hour on Haifa's Rechavlit cable car system Thursday evening due to a technical fault. Fire and rescue services prepared for complex high-altitude rescue operations as passengers waited suspended above the city. The incident occurred just two days after the cable car resumed service following maintenance, and coincidentally, two days after a similar rescue drill was conducted.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Dozens of people were stranded for over an hour on Haifa's Rechavlit cable car system Thursday.
- A severe technical malfunction caused the cable car system to halt, leaving passengers suspended high above the city.
- Israel Fire and Rescue Services prepared for complex high-altitude rescue operations.
- The incident occurred just two days after the cable car resumed service following maintenance.
- A similar rescue drill was coincidentally conducted at the site two days prior.
Dozens of people were stranded for over an hour on Thursday evening inside cars of Haifa's Carmelit cable car system, known as the "Rechavlit," due to a severe technical malfunction that halted the system. The passengers, suspended high above Haifa Bay, were unable to exit independently and awaited a resolution or evacuation.
Large forces from the Israel Fire and Rescue Services were dispatched to the scene and prepared for complex high-altitude rescue operations. Given the prolonged duration of the malfunction and concerns for the passengers' safety in the enclosed cars, firefighters focused on a professional high-altitude rescue, involving rappelling to the cars and safely lowering the stranded individuals.
Emergency teams worked in coordination with the Rechavlit's control room, attempting to determine if the system could be restarted or if the complex rescue procedure was necessary. The Rechavlit, part of Haifa's public transport, connects the Bay Central bus station to the Technion and Haifa University. Its return to service was expected to be smooth after recent maintenance and checks.
The malfunction, occurring just two days after the cable car resumed regular operations following scheduled maintenance, has raised criticism and surprise. The incident occurred coincidentally, only two days after the Haifa fire station conducted a large-scale rescue drill simulating exactly this scenario of people trapped in cable car cabins. This drill involved firefighters, special rescue units, Rechavlit emergency teams, and Magen David Adom paramedics, testing the operational readiness that is now being put to the test in real-time.
