A Spanish ski resort in the Pyrenees reopened on Sunday, just one day after a malfunctioning chairlift caused skiers to fall to the ground, leaving 30 people injured.
The Astun resort resumed operations with all lifts except the damaged one, which remains closed for investigation. Images broadcast by TVE television showed skiers back on the slopes as authorities and the resort management worked to determine the cause of the incident.
According to Andres Pita, deputy director of Eivasa, the company operating the resort, multiple agencies are involved in the investigation, including local police, Aragon regional authorities, the resort management, and the chairlift manufacturer. “Safety inspections are very demanding in this region, and all the lifts were up to date with their legal checks,” Pita stated.
Saturday’s accident resulted in 10 people being hospitalized, with another 20 treated at the resort by emergency responders. As of Sunday, two young individuals with serious injuries remained hospitalized in Zaragoza.
Miguel Ángel Clavero, the emergency services director for the Aragon region, explained the technical cause of the accident. “Apparently, there was a failure in the return pulley of one of the chairlifts, causing the cable to lose tension. This led to some chairs falling while others remained suspended,” Clavero said.
Eyewitness Maria Moreno described the terrifying experience. “Suddenly, we heard a sound, and we fell straight to the ground while still in the chair. We bounced multiple times, hurting our backs. Some people were thrown out of their chairs entirely,” she told TVE.
Aragon’s regional president, Jorge Azcón of the Popular Party (PP), visited the site on Sunday to assess the situation. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also addressed the incident, offering federal government support to the region in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The accident has drawn comparisons to past chairlift failures in Spain, including a 2009 incident in the Sierra Nevada region where a broken cable injured 23 people.
The Popular Party has faced criticism for its handling of disaster warnings and relief efforts, most notably during deadly floods in the Valencia region last October. However, the swift reopening of the Astun resort, coupled with ongoing investigations, has aimed to restore confidence among visitors.
Officials emphasized that ensuring safety and preventing similar incidents will remain a priority as skiing activities continue at the site.
