Last Thursday, the Benalmádena Cable Car hosted an unprecedented emergency exercise, focusing on the test of a nighttime rescue operation. The drill, which began at 9:00 PM, involved more than ten emergency services with the aim of evaluating coordination and the effectiveness of protocols in case of an incident at the facility.
The operation took place between pylons 11 and 19, on the lower slope of Monte Calamorro. Various rescue scenarios were recreated with the participation of extras simulating passengers trapped in several cabins. These extras had accessed the facilities from 8:00 PM to allow for the preparation of the operation and the placement of necessary equipment before the drill began.
Personnel from the Spanish Red Cross, Civil Protection, Local Police, National Police, the Military Emergencies Unit (UME), and various fire departments from Benalmádena, Mijas, Fuengirola, Marbella, Málaga city, and the Provincial Firefighters Consortium participated in the operation.
“"Coordination between organizations is one of the main objectives of an activity that will allow us to evaluate response times and the effectiveness of joint action procedures."
One of the notable innovations was the use of advanced technology. The Local Police Air Unit deployed a drone equipped with a thermal camera to locate passengers in the cabins, enhancing search capabilities in low-visibility nighttime conditions.
An Advanced Command Post (PMA) was set up on Orégano Street, next to the roundabout under pylon 11. This served as the nerve center for coordinating all operations, including the deployment of tents, ambulances, and technical and medical staff.
The maneuvers, initially scheduled to conclude around 1:00 AM, finished by approximately 11:00 PM, proceeding as planned and without significant incidents, according to the operation's assessment.
These types of drills are conducted periodically at the Benalmádena Cable Car to reinforce the preparedness of emergency teams and ensure the safety of one of the most emblematic tourist infrastructures on the Costa del Sol.
