🔗 Share this article

The tragic funicular incident in Portugal's capital that cost 16 lives in early September was triggered by a faulty cable, per the official probe issued on the start of the week.

The investigation has urged that Portugal's capital's similar cable cars stay halted until their safety can be thoroughly verified.

Details of the Deadly Event

The collision took place when the historic Glória funicular left the rails and crashed into a structure, horrifying the city and highlighting significant worries about the reliability of older landmarks.

Portugal's transport safety authority (the bureau) noted that a line connecting two cabins had detached just before the crash on September 3rd.

Preliminary Conclusions

This preliminary document confirmed that the cable was not up to the mandatory standards set by the city's transit authority.

The cable failed to comply with the requirements currently applicable to be employed for the Glória tram.

This comprehensive report additionally advised that all funiculars in the capital must be kept non-operational until inspectors can verify they have effective braking systems able of stopping the cabins in the scenario of a wire failure.

Fatalities and Casualties

Of the 16 victims, 11 were non-Portuguese citizens, featuring 3 British individuals, 2 Korean nationals, 2 citizens of Canada, a Frenchwoman, one Swiss, one American, and one Ukrainian.

The incident also hurt approximately 20 persons, among them three Britons.

The Portuguese victims included four workers from the same social care institution, whose offices are located at the peak of the sharp alley accessed by the cable car.

Background Details

This Elevador da Glória began operation in 1885, utilizing a mechanism of counterweights to drive its 2 compartments along its long route climbing and descending a steep slope.

As per authorities, a routine check on the date of the accident found no issues with the cable that later broke.

The probers also reported that the operator had engaged the vehicle's braking system, but they were incapable to prevent the carriage without the function of the balancing mechanism.

This whole crash transpired in merely less than a minute, per the inquiry.

Future Measures

This investigative body is expected to release a definitive analysis with operational guidelines within the next year, though an interim update may deliver more details on the development of the investigation.