Romanian among seven Buddhist monks killed in Sri Lanka cable car crash

Sri Lankan police have announced that seven Buddhist monks have died after the cable car they were riding in crashed down a mountainside in the northwestern town of Melsiripura.

A police official quoted by the BBC said that monks from India, Russia and Romania were among the victims.

There were 13 people on the cable car, which was heading to a meditation retreat.

Initial reports suggest that a cable broke and the cable car began to descend at high speed, uncontrollably, then crashed into a tree.

Of the six injured, two escaped with minor injuries, while the other four are in critical condition.

Translated by: Radu Matei