Damaged Wire Led to Portuguese Capital Funicular Accident, Inquiry Reveals

This fatal cable car crash in Lisbon that cost 16 people in early September was triggered by a faulty line, according to the official probe issued on Monday.

The inquiry has urged that Lisbon's equivalent vehicles remain non-operational until their safety can be fully verified.

Specifics of the Tragic Incident

The collision occurred when the old Glória cable car went off track and smashed into a edifice, horrifying the city and highlighting serious concerns about the safety of historic tourist attractions.

The country's transport safety authority (GPIAAF) stated that a cable linking two cars had disconnected shortly before the tragedy on the third of September.

Initial Results

The initial analysis stated that the cable failed to meet the mandatory requirements set by the city's transport operator.

This line failed to comply with the specifications mandated to be utilized for the Glória tram.

This detailed report additionally recommended that other cable cars in the capital should stay out of service until authorities can confirm they have adequate stopping mechanisms capable of stopping the cabins in the case of a wire failure.

Fatalities and Injuries

Among the 16 casualties, eleven were non-Portuguese citizens, featuring three British individuals, two South Koreans, 2 Canadian nationals, a French national, one citizen of Switzerland, one citizen of the United States, and a citizen of Ukraine.

The crash also hurt around twenty people, comprising three Britons.

The national casualties featured four workers from the equivalent welfare organization, whose premises are positioned at the summit of the sheer street accessed by the funicular.

Operational Context

This Elevador da Glória began operation in 1885, utilizing a mechanism of counterweights to propel its 2 wagons along its 870-foot path climbing and descending a precipitous incline.

According to the bureau, a routine check on the date of the incident identified nothing unusual with the wire that later snapped.

The investigators also noted that the operator had engaged the funicular's stopping mechanism, but they were powerless to stop the car without the support of the balancing mechanism.

The whole crash unfolded in just 50 seconds, as stated by the inquiry.

Upcoming Steps

This bureau is expected to issue a final document with operational suggestions within the coming year, though an intermediary document may offer additional information on the status of the probe.

Nicole Sparks
Nicole Sparks

A seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience covering political and social issues across Europe.