🔗 Share this article

The tragic cable car accident in Portugal's capital that claimed 16 victims in early September was attributed to a faulty wire, as stated by the formal probe released on Monday.

This investigation has urged that Portugal's capital's comparable vehicles stay non-operational until their safety can be fully confirmed.

Specifics of the Deadly Incident

The accident occurred when the historic Elevador da Glória went off track and collided into a edifice, horrifying the metropolis and raising significant concerns about the reliability of ageing tourist attractions.

The nation's accident investigation agency (GPIAAF) reported that a line linking two cabins had come loose shortly before the crash on 3 September.

Preliminary Findings

The early document confirmed that the cable failed to meet the specified requirements outlined by the local transport operator.

This line failed to comply with the specifications in force to be employed for the Glória funicular.

The detailed analysis also urged that other inclined railways in the city ought to stay out of service until inspectors can verify they have effective stopping mechanisms capable of halting the cabins in the event of a line snap.

Fatalities and Casualties

Of the sixteen victims, eleven were foreign nationals, including 3 UK nationals, two South Koreans, 2 citizens of Canada, a French national, a Swiss national, one US national, and a Ukrainian.

The incident also hurt around 20 people, comprising 3 UK nationals.

The Portuguese fatalities comprised 4 workers from the identical welfare organization, whose offices are located at the top of the sheer side road serviced by the funicular.

Historical Details

This Glória was inaugurated in 1885, employing a system of weight compensation to drive its two compartments along its 870-foot route ascending and descending a steep slope.

According to the bureau, a regular examination on the date of the crash identified no anomalies with the line that eventually broke.

The probers also noted that the conductor had applied the cable car's braking system, but they were powerless to stop the carriage without the function of the weight compensation system.

This whole crash occurred in merely 50 seconds, per the inquiry.

Next Steps

This agency is scheduled to release a final analysis with security suggestions within the following twelve months, though an interim update may offer further information on the status of the probe.