🔗 Share this article

This tragic funicular incident in Portugal's capital that claimed 16 lives in early September was attributed to a defective wire, according to the formal probe published on Monday.

This probe has urged that the city's equivalent cable cars stay halted until their security can be completely verified.

Details of the Devastating Event

This accident happened when the historic Elevador da Glória went off track and smashed into a building, horrifying the city and highlighting significant fears about the reliability of historic landmarks.

The country's air and rail accident investigations bureau (GPIAAF) noted that a line connecting two cabins had disconnected moments before the tragedy on 3 September.

Initial Results

This preliminary document confirmed that the cable did not meet the specified requirements established by the local transport operator.

The cable was not in compliance with the requirements mandated to be used for the Glória funicular.

The comprehensive document additionally advised that other funiculars in the capital must be kept non-operational until experts can ensure they have sufficient braking systems able of stopping the vehicles in the event of a line snap.

Victims and Injuries

Of the 16 casualties, 11 were international visitors, comprising three British citizens, two Korean nationals, two citizens of Canada, a Frenchwoman, one citizen of Switzerland, one US national, and one Ukrainian.

This crash also hurt approximately 20 individuals, comprising three British citizens.

The national casualties featured 4 employees from the same care facility, whose offices are situated at the peak of the steep alley serviced by the cable car.

Background Context

This Glória first opened in the late 19th century, utilizing a system of balancing weights to propel its 2 wagons along its long track up and down a steep hill.

According to authorities, a regular inspection on the day of the incident identified nothing unusual with the wire that subsequently broke.

This investigators also reported that the operator had applied the cable car's stopping mechanism, but they were powerless to prevent the carriage without the function of the counterweight system.

The complete crash occurred in only less than a minute, as stated by the probe.

Next Actions

The investigative body is scheduled to publish a final document with operational guidelines within the following twelve months, though an preliminary update may deliver further details on the status of the investigation.