The management of the company that operates the cable car in Sliven will be fired. This was stated at an extraordinary briefing by the mayor of the city, Stefan Radev, BTA reports.
The reason for this is today's incident, in which two people were injured while traveling on the lift, which was launched at the end of February. According to initial data, the problem is related to the way the facility is operated, he indicated.
This incident is very disturbing, the mayor commented. We received one hundred percent assurances that the operation of this facility will be impeccable. This is unacceptable, especially since it is related to people's lives and health. The operators of the cable car will bear responsibility, they will be dismissed - from the manager to the head of operations.
The injured are 61 and 67 years old. The first of them has a broken ankle, the regional hospital informed. He was admitted for treatment in the orthopedic department. The second had a nosebleed and was released for home treatment.
The elevator has been stopped, the technical supervision has been notified, Mayor Stefan Radev also said. A report on the incident is expected from the municipal carrier "Passenger Transport". "In order for the tensioner to slide along the rope, it was not tightened, and according to the protocol they should be tightened at the beginning of April", said Stefan Radev. He stated that the Municipality will do everything possible for the upcoming treatment of the injured.
In his words, great damage is the distrust that may have arisen among people about safety. We cannot compromise with safety, said Radev.
In an incident at around 11:00 a.m. today, the seat on which two men were traveling slid along the rope and stopped in the seat in front of them. The incident occurred on the descent, shortly before the lower lift station.
The renovation of the cable car was carried out under a project that was part of the large integrated project for the development of tourism and the cultural and historical heritage of the Sliven municipality worth over 3,400,000 leva. It began in November 2023. The engines and ropes were replaced, there are more seats with the possibility of boarding bicycles. The poles have been rehabilitated. Major repairs were also made to the stations.
At the opening, Eng. Encho Petrov, manager of the Municipal Company "Passenger Transport", which manages the facility, assured that its operational life is expected to be longer than the previous one, which lasted over 50 years. He stated that the lift has a modern digital management, control and protection system, and safety is guaranteed.