Four Dead in Naples Cable Car Crash After Cable Snaps in Castellammare di Stabia
A cable car accident in Castellammare di Stabia, Italy, on April 17, 2025, resulted in four fatalities when a cabin fell after a traction cable snapped. Adverse weather complicated rescue operations. Investigations are underway regarding the incident and the cable car system's safety. The community mourns the victims, all tourists.
hassan benyoub 
Castellammare di Stabia, Italy – A tragic cable car accident in southern Italy claimed the lives of four people on Thursday, April 17, 2025, when a cabin plummeted to the ground near Naples after a traction cable snapped, according to local authorities and firefighters.[](https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/national/25099803.cable-car-accident-southern-italy-kills-least-four-people/)
Details of the Accident
Tragedia en el #MonteFaito en la zona de #CastellamareDiStabia cerca de la ciudad de #Napoli. La cabina registró un daño técnico y se cayó dejando 4 víctimas y un desaparecido. #Italia #ULTIMAHORA pic.twitter.com/Uz9M1moF4d — Davide Matrone (@Davidem281) April 17, 2025
The incident occurred on the cable car line connecting the coastal town of Castellammare di Stabia, in the Gulf of Naples, to the summit of Monte Faito, a popular tourist destination offering views of Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples. The 3-kilometer (1.8-mile) cable car system, inaugurated in 1952, experienced a catastrophic failure when a cable broke, causing one cabin with five passengers to crash from a height of approximately 28 meters. A second cabin, carrying 16 passengers, was left stranded closer to the town. Firefighters and Italy’s alpine rescue team successfully evacuated the stranded passengers, but adverse weather conditions, including fog, wind, and rain, complicated efforts to reach the crashed cabin.[](https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/national/25099803.cable-car-accident-southern-italy-kills-least-four-people/)[](https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2043329/italy-cable-car-crash-naples-monte-faito)
Rescue Challenges and Casualties
Local media reported that the crashed cabin was near the upper station when the cable snapped, and the emergency brake on the ascending cabin failed to engage, leading to the fatal plunge. One survivor was seriously injured and rushed to a hospital. Naples prefect Michele de Bari confirmed that eight tourists and an operator were safely evacuated from the second cabin. Vincenzo De Luca, president of the Campania region, noted that all victims were tourists, and the harsh weather hindered rescue operations.[](https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/national/25099803.cable-car-accident-southern-italy-kills-least-four-people/)[](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/least-four-dead-after-cable-31465786)
History of the Cable Car
The Monte Faito cable car, a key attraction drawing thousands of visitors monthly, has a history marred by a similar tragedy. In 1960, a cabin fell, also killing four people, marking the only other recorded accident until this incident. The mayor of Castellammare di Stabia, Luigi Vicinanza, stated that the traction cable’s failure was the likely cause, though investigations are ongoing to determine why the emergency brake malfunctioned.[](https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/national/25099803.cable-car-accident-southern-italy-kills-least-four-people/)
Community and Official Response
The accident has shocked the local community and Italy’s tourism industry, with social media posts reflecting grief and concern. “The cable broke, and the cabin near the top crashed. Fog and bad weather are making rescues difficult,” one X post noted. Authorities have launched a probe to investigate the cable failure and safety mechanisms, raising questions about maintenance and oversight of the aging infrastructure.
As rescue efforts conclude, the focus shifts to supporting the victims’ families and ensuring such tragedies are prevented in the future. Stay updated on this developing story with our coverage.
