SUSPECTED VANDALISM: RCMP say gondola cable at tourist spot may have been cut on purpose
Cabins plunge to ground, but system not operating at the time
SQUAMISH, B.C. — Police believe someone may have intentionally cut a gondola cable at a tourist attraction in Squamish, B.C., sending several unoccupied cabins to the ground early Saturday.
The RCMP say they’re still assessing the damage, but early signs point to the Sea to Sky Gondola cable being cut.
Const. Ashley MacKay said authorities are working to inspect the full length of the gondola line. She said an employee working at the summit heard a loud bang and discovered the fallen cabins.
She said the gondola wasn’t operating at the time and nobody was injured.
Gondola spokesperson Ken Bailey said the company will do what it can to help police in their probe.
He noted the extent of the damage was not known because cloud cover obscured parts of the gondola’s route.
“There (are) 31 cars on the line and we suspect that all of the cars are on the ground. They’re not elevated. But that does not mean that 31 cars have been damaged.”
Bailey said management was too busy trying to figure out what happened to consider what the future holds for the gondola.
“This is something that happened less than 12 hours ago, so the long-term business planning is certainly not something that is priority for us right now,” he said.
Between 1,500 and 3,000 guests visit the gondola each day during the summer season, Bailey said.
Each cabin holds up to eight people.
The Sea to Sky Gondola opened in May 2015 just south of Squamish.
It climbs 830 metres to reach a height of 885 metres above Howe Sound, just south of Squamish. Thirty gondola cabins can carry eight passengers each between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Technical Safety B.C. is also investigating the incident, spokesperson Kathryn McGufficke confirmed. “Our safety officers are currently investigating the incident,” McGufficke wrote. “We’re unable to speculate on causes at this time.”
Technical Safety B.C. oversees the safety of passenger ropeways throughout the province, including tramways, gondolas, chairlifts, rope tows and passenger conveyors.
RCMP are requesting that people stay away from the area, including nearby outdoor trails, and the gondola remains closed.