Majority of Sea to Sky gondola cars will have to be replaced, company says

The majority of the gondola cabins felled after the cable of the Sea to Sky gondolawas deliberately cut Saturday morning will have to be replaced, according to the latest statement fromthe company.

"We are still assessing the damage.However, our initial estimate is that 18 to 20 of our 30 gondola cabins will need to be replaced along with the main cable," read the statement.

RCMP said on Saturday that the cable wasintentionally cut around 4 a.m.that day, sending almost all of the 30 gondola cars attached to the cable crashing to the ground. No one was hurt, but the company says theact has caused "damages reaching into the millions [of dollars]."

There is currently a criminal investigation into the matter.

The gondola, which wasn't operating at the time, normally carries up to 240 passengers at a time on its 30 cars. The trip from the baseto the summit 885 metres above sea level gives visitors views over Howe Sound.

The gondola is one of the major tourist attractions in Squamish, B.C. First launched in May 2014, the summit features a restaurant, family activitiesand regularlyhosts weddings and special events.

The company says it's reaching out to private weddings and events scheduled at the gondola "to relocate as many as possible to other beautiful venues in the area."

As for the more than 200 gondola workers affected by the indefinite closure of the attraction, the company told CBC News they were in touch with its employees on a constant basis.