Skiers trapped

Dec 17 2007

Ninety skiers were left dangling in mid-air - some for nearly 12 hours - after a ski lift broke down in central Japan, police said.

Rescuers climbed a snow-covered slope at the Ontake ski resort in Nagano prefecture, forced open the doors of 17 of the gondola cars and lowered the passengers by rope one at a time to the ground about 20 yards below, said police spokeswoman Akiko Fuseya.

No injuries were reported, but a 33-year-old woman said she felt ill and was taken to a nearby hospital.