The disaster claimed the lives of 155 people, leaving 12 survivors (10 Germans, 2 Austrians) from the burning car. November 11, 2000. The death toll now stands at 158. Paul C. Miclea, Wan Ki Chow, Shen Wen Chien, Junmei Li, Ahmed H. Kashef, Kang Kai, Research output: Journal article publication Journal article Academic research peer-review. Only 12 people survived the accident at the Alpine ski resort of Kaprun when fire raced through a funicular train, bringing its two crowded carriages to a halt in a tunnel. The sustainability of existing tunnels, given the increased road traffic and changed vehicle mix, or the new rolling stocks, needs innovative design practices. Asked about possible British casualties, Major Richard Schieder of the Austrian police said: "The problem is the people on board were very badly burnt so identification is going to be very difficult. The train conductor then lost contact with the control centre because the fire burned through a power cable running the length of the track, causing a total blackout. The onboard electric power, hydraulic braking systems, and fan heaters intended for use in homes instead of trains increased the likelihood of fire.[2]. Meanwhile, the centre filled with smoke and all except four people escaped from the centre. The train ascended and descended the route at 25km/h (16mph), angled at 30 degrees. Heidelberger Bergbahn's tunnel and subterranean funicular were closed and The tragedy occurred Monday, when the Kitzsteinhorn-bound funicular burst into flames in a tunnel, trapping nearly all of its passengers. Unfortunately, most of them would never make it. Kaprun is a typical Alpine village, its streets lined by traditional stucco and wood chalet-style houses and hotels, their overhanging roofs iced in winter with a thick layer of snow. Heating, Ref. Austria ski tunnel fire case opens. Salvage workers and police continue to work steadily to identify victims and to discover the cause of the catastrophe. The other three were found at a station stop at the top of the tunnel. and the Schloss or castle on the hill overlooking the old town.). In the late 1920s the German AEG company and the Salzburg state government developed plans for a Hohe Tauern hydroelectricity power plant, including two reservoirs in the Kaprun Valley. Following the spate of tunnel fires which occurred in Europe at the turn of the century, the safety of European tunnels was assessed and found to be generally poor. The tragedy occurred Monday, when the Kitzsteinhorn-bound funicular burst into flames in a tunnel, trapping nearly all of its passengers. Daron Rahlves Knows. 21 days or longer. Located at the foot of the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, Kaprun is a year-round sports centre. They tried to tear open the closed doors and to smash the windows. The disaster killed 155 people (150 on the ascending train, two on the descending train and three in the mountain station). abstract = "The catastrophic consequences of the tunnel fires (e.g., the Mont Blanc tunnel, 1999, the Austrian Kaprun funicular tunnel, 2000, and the Swiss St. Gotthard tunnel, 2001) not only resulted in loss of life, severe property damages, but also left the public with a lack of confidence in using such systems. A new transport system was eventually built, and the train never reopened, only leaving behind a sealed tunnel and a grim legacy. The undamaged "Gletscherdrachen" car was confiscated by the Salzburg authorities for the investigations and will be brought back to the operators of Kaprun skiing area. Hotline numbers for worried relatives: Red Cross: 0043 662 81 44 300; District Council: 0043 65 47 20000. The passengers had no method of contacting the attendant. The passengers, by this stage aware of the fire and unable to exit through the doors, attempted to break the shatter-resistant acrylic windows in order to escape. The fire was traced to an electric fan heater that overheated and caught fire, severing a number of . The track cuts through a cliff and ridges as it heads up to the ski slopes. Heidelberg > Funicular. Medical and psychiatric personnel have been providing support for the rescue workers due to the macabre scene. Prior to the passenger train leaving the lower terminus shortly after 9:00 am, the electric fan heater in the unattended cabin at the lower end of the train caught fire, due to a design fault that caused the unit to overheat. Kaprun, Austria, Nov. 15, 2000-The final death toll is 155 people in what can be pronounced history's worst cable car accident. In the early 20th century the castle was a possession of Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein, who sold it in 1921. The sustainability of existing tunnels, given the increased road traffic and changed vehicle mix, or the new rolling stocks, needs innovative design practices. Survivors described horrifying scenes as people trapped inside the train screamed with terror before the choking fumes silenced them. There were 12 survivors from the burning ascending train. @article{3e91232b8fab481f8f9eeb9311e08566. All but three of the victims were discovered inside the tunnel. The carriages each had a maximum capacity of 180 passengers. Together they form a unique fingerprint. After the passenger train ascended into the tunnel shortly after 9:00am, the electric heater in the unattended conductors cabin at the lower end of the train caught fire, due to a design fault. 37 Germans Construction stopped in 1942/43, and was restarted after the war by Allied-occupied Austria from 1947. Others died in the control center as the smoke was funneled toward them. They were unable to escape the inferno and toxic fumes of the exploding cable car. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Like most funiculars, the Heidelberger Bergbahn has two cars There were no engines, fuel tanks, or drivers, only low-voltage electrical systems, 160-litre hydraulic tanks (used for the brake system) and an attendant who operated the hydraulic doors. The total length of the system is just over 1.5 km. A German spoke of scenes of terror as the fire broke out. The disaster killed 155 people (150 on the ascending train, 2 on the descending train and 3 in the mountain station). for children) and the Tinnunculus Falknerei (where you can see falconry demonstrations The clear blue skies and a planned ski competition meant that the two carriages were packed as they entered the tunnel on the first day of the winter season at the year-round ski resort. Germany > Some recent advances in technology, specifically state-of-the-art ventilation and water suppression systems, are also discussed. On 11 November 2000, it was the site of the Kaprun disaster, in which 149 skiers lost their lives in a tunnel fire. The tunnel and the funicular railway have remained closed since then. Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! International tunnel fire-safety design practices. The Kitzsteinhorn is accessed by the Gletscherbahn 1, an aerial lift in three sections, opened on 12 December 1965 to develop the area for glacier skiing. We expect to find a lot of ashes. Railsystem goes on to describe that the train, created in 1974 and upgraded in 1993, had no smoke alarms and no fire extinguishers within reach of passengers. Fire safety in rail and road tunnels is challenging because of the specific features of the tunnel environment. All Rights Reserved. An automatic safety feature triggered, which brought the train to a halt, and the conductor realized a fire had broken out. Tony Blair was told that British skiers were believed to be among the dead when he phoned Wolfgang Schossel, the Austrian chancellor, to offer his condolences, Downing Street said. REUTERS/Calle Toernstroem REUTERS AX/FMS RF 2HK1C06 - The town of Zell am See in the Zell am See-Kaprun region, Austrian Alps, Salcburger land The new funicular opened in 2005, making it both the oldest | The visitors centre gives guided tours of the area. The disaster killed 155 people (150 on the ascending train, two on the descending train and three in the mountain station). The train, the Gletscherbahn 2, was a funicular railway running from Kaprun to the Kitzsteinhorn, opened in 1974. If the steel cable was torn, as has been reported, the cable itself would run downhill and if it ran fast enough the friction could be the cause of the fire.". The Kaprun disaster was a fire that occurred in an ascending train in the tunnel of the Gletscherbahn Kaprun 2 funicular in Kaprun, Austria on 11 November 2000. that travel in opposite directions and pass each other at the midpoint of their The cable car caught fire in a mountain tunnel, making it difficult to access for rescuers and for those trapped inside to escape (via UPI). On 11 November 2000, 161 passengers and one conductor boarded the funicular train for an early morning trip to the slopes. The majority of those in the train were Austrians and Germans, but Americans and Japanese also lost their lives in the flames. This nighttime picture of the funicular tunnel was taken with By: Francis Xavier, What happens when your campsite isnt bear-proofcheck out his video from the Oakland Zoo to find out. This paper looks at some of the lessons learned from the Kaprun funicular tunnel fire of 2000; the King's Cross underground station fire of 1987; the Baku subway fire of 1995 and the Channel Tunnel fire of 1996. . Copyright 1996-2023 Durant and Cheryl [citation needed], A Chataprunnin (derived from Celtic for "whitewater") settlement in the Duchy of Bavaria was first mentioned in a 931 deed, documented as a possession held by the Counts of Falkenstein in 1166. The tunnel acted like a giant chimney, sucking oxygen in from the bottom and rapidly sent the poisonous smoke, heat and the fire itself billowing upwards. from 9 a.m. until late afternoon in winter and until mid-evening in summer. /. 10 Japanese The victims were skiers on their way to the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier. The stations were abandoned and the tunnel sealed, and it remains unused today. There were two carriages on a single track, with a section allowing the trains to pass each other halfway. the Heidelberger Bergbahn's tunnel and subterranean funicular were closed and completely rebuilt after the Gletscherbahn Kaprun 2 funicular fire in Austria killed 155 people on November 11, 2000. [citation needed]. Six more deaths occurred indirectly. Kaprun (German pronunciation: ) is . It was impossible to breathe." Some recent advances in technology, specifically state-of-the-art ventilation and water suppression systems, are also discussed. celebrate its 120th year of providing service between the Kornmarkt, in Heidelberg's Altstadt, and the Knigstuhl, Commanded by Hermann Gring, construction began during World War II using prisoners of war from Belgium and other occupied countries and Jewish and Soviet forced labourers.

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