At least seven Buddhist monks died in a cable car accident at Sri Lanka’s Na Uyana Monastery on Wednesday. Three of the monks were foreign nationals from India, Russia, and Romania, local police said.
Thirteen people were riding the cable car when it crashed around 9 p.m. local time. The monastery spreads across more than 5,000 acres of forest on a steep mountain range. Police reported that rescuers faced difficulty reaching the scene due to the remote location.
Videos and images from the crash show a snapped cable, blood on the structure, and monks lying near the tracks. Local resident Asanga Kiriwatta said the monks “were thrown all over the place” and rescuers struggled to help them.
Sri Lanka’s foreign minister, Vijitha Herath, expressed shock over the tragic accident and offered condolences to the victims and their families.
Na Uyana Monastery is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest Buddhist forest monasteries, dating back to the 3rd century BCE. It houses over 200 monks and welcomes visitors for meditation retreats and spiritual events.
Authorities have not released further details about the cause of the accident. Investigations are ongoing.
