🔗 Share this article

The fatal cable car crash in Portugal's capital that cost sixteen lives in early September was triggered by a damaged line, as stated by the formal inquiry published on the start of the week.

This inquiry has advised that the city's similar vehicles be kept halted until their safety can be thoroughly verified.

Particulars of the Deadly Event

The collision happened when the 19th-century Glória cable car derailed and smashed into a structure, shocking the metropolis and sparking grave worries about the safety of ageing tourist attractions.

Portugal's air and rail accident investigations bureau (the investigative body) stated that a cable joining two compartments had disconnected moments before the incident on 3 September.

Preliminary Findings

The preliminary report indicated that the wire failed to meet the required standards set by the urban transit authority.

The cable was not in compliance with the standards currently applicable to be employed for the Glória cable car.

The detailed analysis additionally urged that all funiculars in the city should remain out of service until inspectors can ensure they have effective brakes capable of halting the cars in the case of a line snap.

Casualties and Harm

Among the 16 victims, 11 were non-Portuguese citizens, comprising three UK nationals, 2 citizens of South Korea, two Canadians, a French national, a Swiss national, one American, and a Ukrainian national.

The crash also hurt about twenty people, among them three UK nationals.

The Portuguese victims included four employees from the same social care institution, whose premises are situated at the summit of the sharp alley accessed by the inclined railway.

Historical Context

This Glória funicular first opened in the late 19th century, employing a system of counterweights to move its 2 compartments along its 265-metre track up and down a sharp incline.

Based on the bureau, a routine inspection on the day of the accident detected no issues with the cable that later broke.

The investigators also stated that the driver had applied the cable car's brakes, but they were powerless to stop the carriage without the assistance of the balancing mechanism.

This whole event occurred in merely under a minute, per the investigation.

Next Measures

This bureau is anticipated to issue a conclusive document with safety suggestions within the next year, though an intermediary document may offer further details on the development of the inquiry.