At least 13 killed after cable car falls to the ground in Italy

At least 13 people were killed and two children seriously injured after a cable car fell into the ground in northern Italy on Sunday

The Stresa-Mottarone cable car dropped 60 feet, Marcella Severino, mayor of the town of Stresa said.

He added that the cabin rolled several times down the steep slopes before it was stopped by the trees.

It came down as it was making the 20-minute journey from the town on the Maggiore Lake to the summit of the Mottarone mountain in the Alps, nearly 4,500 feet above sea level.

The cable broke 300 meters from the top of the mountain.

A picture of the crash taken by Italy’s fire department revealed the crushed and crumpled remains of the cable car in a clearing of a thick patch of pine trees close to the mountain’s summit.

Hikers heard noise before the crash took place.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi sent his condolences to the families of the victims. He described the incident as a “tragic accident” on Twitter.

“A special thought goes to the gravely injured children and their families,” he wrote.

Officials estimated the deaths at 13, though the number could rise as few injured are still in hospital.