The fall of the ski lift has injured at least 30 people

At least 30 people have been injured, 17 of them seriously, after a ski lift collapsed in northern Spain.

The resort of Astún in the Spanish Pyrenees, where the incident took place, has been closed and rescue services are on the scene.

Images and videos circulating on social media show several people lying in the snow under the ski lift.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was “surprised” by the news of the incident.

Ambulances and helicopters have taken the injured to nearby hospitals.

As reported by one of the Spanish public media, dozens of people are still hanging from the 15-meter-high chairlift, waiting to be rescued.

A witness told local media that it appeared a cable had been pulled, chairs bounced and people were thrown from the lift.

The cause of the cable failure is not yet known.

Images on social media are said to show one of the chairlift’s steering wheels sticking out of its mouth.

The video released by the Spanish Civil Guard shows a helicopter before it lands so that emergency workers can land.