Val di Fassa: 800 hikers rescued after extreme winds stall lifts

Approximately 800 hikers were rescued in Val di Fassa following severe weather conditions on Friday. High winds exceeding 110 km/h at altitudes above 2,500 meters caused cable car systems to shut down, leaving many people stranded.

In the Ciampac area, roughly 400 people were stuck due to the lift stoppage and were escorted to lower elevations by volunteer firefighters and lift staff. At Sass Pordoi, about 600 people were affected; rescuers escorted 200 individuals through Forcella Pordoi on foot, while more vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly, used the lifts once they were safely reopened.

The rescue operations, conducted by the Alpine and Speleological Rescue of Trentino and volunteer firefighters, were complicated by the wind, which prevented helicopter assistance. Three injuries were reported during the incident, including one individual with a limb failure and others suffering from falls on the trails.