Kaprun Funicular Fire 2000
In November 2000, skiers boarded the Gletscherbahn Kaprun 2 funicular in Austria for a trip to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier-but just minutes into the tunnel, disaster struck. A faulty electric fan heater, not designed for use in a moving vehicle, overheated. It ignited, burned through plastic hydraulic lines, and caused a fire that shut down the train 600 meters into the tunnel. The fire disabled the hydraulic doors and shut off power when a 16 kV cable burned through. There were no smoke detectors, no accessible fire extinguishers, and no way for the trapped passengers to contact help.
The flames, toxic smoke, and heat turned the tunnel into a deadly "chimney." 155 people died-most from smoke inhalation and asphyxiation, and many others were burned. Only 12 survived, some by escaping downward past the fire.
A trial laid charges of criminal negligence against 16 people, including officials and engineers, but in 2004, all were acquitted. The disaster became Austria's worst rail disaster and led to sweeping safety changes-emergency exits, fire-safe materials, reachable extinguishers, and stricter oversight.