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Horror for passengers trapped overnight in violently swaying cable car 60 meters above ground
๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ท Croatia /Disasters & Emergencies

Horror for passengers trapped overnight in violently swaying cable car 60 meters above ground

From Veฤernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A powerful tornado struck Sljeme, Croatia, in July 1973, causing widespread destruction and trapping many people.
  • The storm, accompanied by heavy rain and hail, uprooted trees, destroyed buildings, and blocked roads and hiking trails.
  • Numerous people were stranded, including those in cable car cabins hanging precariously 60 meters above the ground, who spent the night suspended in the air.

A terrifying night unfolded on Sljeme, Croatia, in July 1973, when a powerful tornado ripped through the popular excursion site of Adolfovac. The storm, characterized by torrential rain and hail the size of apples, left a scene of apocalyptic devastation.

Witnesses described the event as lasting only three seconds, during which trees snapped, and tables flew like paper. The tornado flattened one of five bungalows and caused extensive damage. Hundreds of people found themselves trapped in cars and on hiking trails due to the debris.

The most dramatic ordeal was experienced by those caught in the cable car cabins. Suspended 60 meters above the ground, these individuals spent the night in a precarious state, with rescue efforts hampered by the blocked roads. Some cabins reportedly plummeted to the ground with terrified passengers inside. Emergency services, military, and firefighters struggled to reach the stranded individuals due to the sheer volume of fallen trees obstructing all routes.

Everything lasted 3 seconds. Suddenly there was a crash, trees were breaking, and tables were flying like pieces of paper.

โ€” Marija Miloลกeviฤ‡ and Branka VukovacEmployees at Adolfovac describing the sudden and violent onset of the tornado.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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