Phatthalung: Two elderly people were killed and three injured yesterday after an old cable car fell at Wat Uthai Tharam in Muang district of Phatthalung.
Pol Capt Supachai Muenaksorn of Muang Phatthalung police said the accident occurred at Wat Uthai Tharam in tambon Nanod yesterday morning during the temple's Songkran Festival merit-making activities.
Rescuers and Nanod municipality staff who attended the scene took three elderly victims who were injured to Phatthalung Hospital.
The two dead people, identified later as Janya Wetrangsi, 80, a native of Muang district, and Pin Rattanaubon, 87, from Satun, were found with multiple injuries.
An investigation showed the old small cable car that fell had been built locally to take merit-makers to the top of the temple, which is perched on a hill about 300 metres high.
It was reported the cable car had been used for years and the temple had alerted people to be careful when using it as it was in poor condition.
However, some villagers still used it, resulting in the accident.