At least seven Buddhist monks have died following a cable car accident in central Sri Lanka.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, Sept. 24, when 13 monks were traveling in a cable car at the Na Uyana Monastery around 9 p.m. local time, according to local media outlet Dinamina and CNN, citing local police. Dinamina reported that an iron cable supporting the vehicle had snapped, causing the cable car to overturn.
The monastery, which spans over 5,000 acres of forested hills, is home to roughly 150 Buddhist monks, according to its website.
Three of the monks who died were foreign nationals from India, Russia, and Romania, CNN reported, citing local officials.
Six monks with serious injuries are receiving treatment at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, with two reportedly in critical condition, according to Dinamina.
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PEOPLE has reached out to the Sri Lanka Police, the Ministry of External Affairs of India, the Russian Foreign Ministry, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania for comment.
The cable car reportedly had a capacity of around six passengers, according to Dinamina. A video from the scene captured the snapped cable and a pool of blood near the destroyed vehicle, CNN reported.
“Some monks had fallen inside the jungle. We had great difficulty finding them. We saw several of them dead where they had fallen,” witness Asanka Siriwardena told Dinamina. “The injuries they had sustained were beyond description. The dakku [cable car] was completely destroyed. Pieces were scattered everywhere. It is very sad about this calamity that befell a group of monks who were practicing meditation.”
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Sri Lanka’s foreign minister, Vijitha Herath, also expressed shock at the tragedy.
“Shocked by the loss of venerable monks, including international members of the Sangha, in the tragic accident at Na Uyana Aranya Senasanaya,” Herath wrote on X. “Sri Lanka mourns with the Buddhist community worldwide. My condolences to all affected, and prayers for recovery of the injured.”
