Quito - Emergency personnel in Ecuador worked tirelessly throughout the early morning hours on Friday to rescue a group of individuals who had been trapped for 10 hours in one of the world's most elevated cable cars. The incident occurred around 4 p.m. local time on Thursday when authorities were alerted about a mechanical malfunction on the Quito Cable Car, leaving 78 people stranded.

The Quito municipality released a statement confirming that all passengers had been located and fortunately sustained no injuries. They promptly dispatched rescue teams and ambulances to the site, implementing their contingency and emergency plan. The rescued individuals were safely transported to a secure location where they received medical evaluations.

Photos shared on the municipality's Twitter account showcased the rescue operation in progress, with Quito's mayor, Pabel Muñoz, personally overseeing the situation. At the time, the municipality announced that the Cable Car would remain closed until the completion of the investigations.

A total of 60 emergency personnel, including paramedics and high mountain teams, participated in the rescue effort. The municipality expressed gratitude to the San Francisco de Cruz Loma community for their organization and support during the rescue operation, as stated in their official statement.

The cable car, known as the TelefériQo, spans a distance of 1.55 miles and takes approximately 20 minutes to complete its journey. Situated at an altitude of over 12,950 feet above sea level, it ranks as one of South America's highest cable car rides, offering passengers breathtaking views of Quito's mountainous landscape.