Several people killed after cable car falls in Italy's Piedmont

Several people were killed after a mountaintop cable car plunged to the ground in Italy's northern region of Piedmont on Sunday, according to rescue team.

"Rescue operations continue. Unfortunately there are several victims and serious injuries," Corpo nazionale soccorso alpino e speleologico (CNSAS), a public utility service belonging toClub Alpino Italiano, wrote on Twitter.

Italy's emergency department also tweeted about the incident, saying rescue work is ongoing but did not give details on casualties.

Italian's ANSA news agency said eight people have been found dead so far, citing rescuers.

Some local media has reported higher toll of nine victims.

ANSA said the cable car carried 11 people and that two children had been brought by helicopter to a hospital in the northern city of Turin.

The cable car collapsed near the summit of the Stresa-Mottarone line in Piedmont and was very high off the ground, the Alpine rescue service's Walter Milan told Italy's SkyTG24.

(With input from agencies)