Czech cable car crash One dead as carriage flies off and smashes into mountainside

One person has been left dead after a Czech cable car carriage broke loose and smashed into a mountainside.

Several people were also reportedly injured after the cable car crashed in Liberec, northern Czech Republic.

The cable car travels 1,000 metres using two cabins, each operated by one member of staff.

Spokesman Michael Georgiev told Czech Television: "One cabin fell while on its way down. There was one person inside, who unfortunately succumbed to their injuries.

"Fortunately, the other cabin stayed in its normal place, some 15 people were evacuated, they should be without injuries, just suffered mental shock."

Images from the scene show the cable car smashed on the ground with emergency services working in the area.

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Emergency services working around the crashed cable car ( REUTERS)

The cable car was reportedly set to undergo maintenance work on Monday.

The tragedy comes just months after a cable car crashed 1,640 feet down a mountain by Lake Maggiore in Italy, leaving 14 people dead.

The cable car was carrying passengers between Stresa, on Lake Maggiore, and Mottarone mountain in Italy's Alps when it crashed, in a panoramic trip that would've taken no more than 20 minutes.

The cable car was reportedly set to undergo maintenance work on Monday ( REUTERS)

The cable car was approaching a station on May 23 on top of the 4,900ft Mottarone mountain when it plunged.

Stresa Mayor Marcella Severino said the accident was believed to have been caused by one of the cables breaking, though the cause was still under investigation.

Ms Severino, the mayor of Stresa, told broadcaster RAI that hikers heard a loud hiss before the crash just after midday.

A rescue operation on the mountainside in Liberec, Czech Republic ( REUTERS)

Some of the victims were found trapped inside the car, with others thrown into the woods, she added.

The cable car had only restarted a month ago following the country's Covid lockdown.

Officials said the cable car system, which first opened in August 1970, had undergone regular checks, with the most recent one taking place last November.

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