This is the terrifying moment skiers plunged 15 meters to the ground after a chairlift derailed at a Spanish mountain resort.
An 11-year-old girl was among 10 skiers injured in Saturday's tragedy at the Astun ski resort in the heart of the Aragon Valley in northeastern Spain.
Two 18-year-old women were seriously injured and admitted to a hospital intensive care unit following the shocking incident.
The first footage showing the moment the near-tragedy unfolded appeared overnight.
Miguel Angel Clavero, the head of Aragon's government, said on Saturday, after initial reports that about 30 people had been injured and about 80 skiers stranded, that the incident was caused by the failure of the return of one of the chairlifts operating 'loss caused'. of tension and led to chairlift falls.'
A skier filming the horror scenes said seconds before skiers crashed to the ground: “The chairlift just screeched to a halt and it's a miracle we didn't die.”
'A lot of people fell off their chairs.
'The chairlift turned almost 180 degrees and you see people lying on the ground.
An 11-year-old girl was among 10 skiers injured in Saturday's tragedy at the Astun Ski Resort
The first footage showing the moment the near-tragedy unfolded appeared overnight
Victims fell 15 meters to the ground when a chairlift derailed at the Spanish ski station
“People will get hurt because many fell and others who were scared jumped.
“Snowmobilers, I assume there are medical responders on board, are on their way, and they told us over the loudspeakers to stay calm and help is on the way.
'The first helicopters are also on their way to evacuate the most seriously injured.'
Subsequent Tannoy messages to skiers as the evacuation operation continued urged them to be patient while the injured were treated first.
Police continue to investigate Saturday's chaos, although separate investigations are being carried out by the regional government and the ski resort.
The chairlift opened in 1990 and had passed all regular inspections.
The last check took place in 2021 and the next one was scheduled for 2026.
Ski resort boss Andres Pita said: 'What happened should not have happened and we are working to determine the exact cause and minimize the risks, but there is no such thing as zero risk.'
Tannoy messages to skiers as the evacuation operation continued urged them to be patient while the injured were treated first.
Skiers threw themselves to the ground after falling from the chairlift, while others jumped
The ski area has now reopened, but the chairlift on the Canal Roya, where the near-tragedy took place, will remain closed for the time being.
In addition to the 11-year-old schoolgirl, the injured skiers also included a 67-year-old woman.
Aragon's government initially said it was aware of “eight people seriously injured and nine very seriously injured,” before it became clear that the number of casualties was lower than initially thought.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a tweet on Saturday: 'Shocked by the news of the accident at the Astun ski resort.
“I have spoken to the President of Aragon, Jorge Azcon, to offer him the government's full support.”
Miguel Ángel Clavero, head of the Aragon government, said just after 2:15 p.m. local time on the day of the tragedy: “There has been a failure in the return of one of the chairlifts and that has caused a loss of power and led to the chairlifts have fallen over. .'
