SkyCab victims cold, hungry and stranded for several hours
ALOR STAR: It was an experience to remember for the more than 1,000 people who were stranded on the peak of Gunung Machinchang in Langkawi on Sunday evening.
Besides facing bitter cold, the victims had to fight hunger until they were rescued later that day.
Yong Sook Fun, 26, from Kuala Lumpur, said he would not forget the experience of being stuck at the first station for several hours until they were rescued about 10pm.
Yong said he was with 10 other holidayers, including a 10-monthold baby, when the incident happened.
He said they took the cable car up the hill on the second day of their holiday in Langkawi.
“The glitch happened about 5pm. We panicked and were scared.
“The baby was crying and most of us were tired and hungry.”
Yong said they waited for several hours before the cable car service was resumed and they descended the hill safely.
He urged the cable car management to ensure that there was an emergency plan to prevent a recurrence.
He said several tourists from China, especially those visiting the island for the first time, had expressed their disappointment over the incident.
About 1,000 tourists were stranded after the cable car service had a system’s failure at 5.48pm on Sunday.
It was reported that 88 tourists were stranded in 16 gondolas, 200 people at the first station and another 800 on the peak of Gunung Machinchang.
The service resumed at 10.50pm after repairs were completed on the faulty system by Panorama Langkawi Sdn Bhd (Panorama Langkawi).
Langkawi Development Authority chief executive officer Datuk Azizan Noordin said the incident was due to a faulty equipment on the roller that moved the cable cars.
He said the company that provided the SkyCab service, Doppelmayr from Austria, would examine the faulty system.
Azizan said Panorama Langkawi had refunded tickets to the stranded visitors.
He said Panorama Langkawi also provided assistance to foreign tourists who missed their flights home.
“The incident did not stop visitors from using the SkyCab service.
“After the operations resumed this (yesterday) afternoon, more than 3,000 visitors used the service.”