There was quite a commotion in the Canary Islands when the cable cars on the ski slopes broke down, leaving over a hundred tourists trapped at the top of the mountain.

Besides those that couldn’t use the cabinas telefericas (cable cars) to get down Teide mountain, there were also about 60 actually trapped inside the cars, who had to be rescued by a specialised Army unit (UME) with the help of three helicopters.

Over 20 soldiers from the UME, based on the mainland in Sevilla, climbed the mountain, which is an extinct volanco, carrying blankets and food.

The next morning the soldiers, as well as members of the Red Cross and the Canarian emergency services, escorted the tourist down the mountain.

As for the cable cars, 42 people had to be lowered from the suspended cabins down 20 metres of ropes to the ground. Three helicopters were used to rescue the old and the very young who couldn’t use the rope. Another 47 were helped down by the Guardia Civil.

In the meantime a team of specialists from Switzerland has been brought in to examine the cablecar system to find out what had gone wrong.

The cable cars ground to a halt at 13.30h when the system seized up, with the descending car carrying 35 passengers aboard. Another 35 passengers were trapped in the ascending one.

Nightfall found over 100 tourists still at the top of the mountain, who had spent the night in a mountain refuge and be escorted down on foot in the morning.

(News: Canary Islands)