The tragedy occurred on Thursday afternoon when a cable snapped on a line linking the town of Castellammare di Stabia, near the Gulf of Naples, to Monte Faito. The cabin crashed to the ground, killing all but one person on board.
The third victim is reported to be from Israel, while the fourth was the cable car operator, named locally as Carmine Parlato. One person survived the incident and was taken to hospital with injuries.
Umberto De Gregorio, chairman of the cable car operator Ente Autonomo Volturno, said: “The cabin at the top has crashed, casualties are feared.”
Footage shared on social media showed rescue teams lowering the survivor from the wreckage to the ground.
A spokesperson for the local fire service confirmed the deaths, saying: “Four dead bodies were found and a fifth injured person was rescued and taken to hospital.”
Italian prosecutors in Torre Annunziata have opened an investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the collapse.
Naples mayor Gaetano Manfredi said: “I express deep condolences, on behalf of the Metropolitan City of Naples and myself, for the victims of the tragedy that occurred this afternoon due to the collapse of the Faito cable car cabin.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is currently in Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump, also offered her condolences.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are monitoring the situation following an incident in Italy and are in contact with the local authorities.”