KAPRUN — 2000 · Major Tragedy
The Kaprun Funicular Disaster
On the morning of 11 November 2000 a fire broke out in the rear cabin of the Gletscherbahn Kaprun 2 funicular carrying skiers to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, after oil leaking from a hydraulic line near a heater ignited. The train stopped about 600 metres into the tunnel, which funnelled smoke and flames upwards. Including people at the upper station, 155 died; only 12 survived by descending through the tunnel. The victims came from many countries, above all Austria, Germany, Japan and the United States. In February 2004 all 16 defendants, including company managers, ministry officials and inspectors, were acquitted.
- Date
- 2000
- Place
- Salzburg, Austria, Kaprun, AT
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 47.2100, 12.6900 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 11 November 2000The funicular caught fire in the tunnel; 155 died.
- 18 June 2002The trial of 16 defendants began.
- 19 February 2004All defendants were acquitted.
- 11 November 2004A memorial to the victims was opened.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Kaprun disaster en.wikipedia.org ↗
- SnowBrains — 25 years on: remembering the deadliest ski resort disaster snowbrains.com ↗
- Wikipedia
- SnowBrains
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.