🔗 Share this article

This tragic cable car crash in Portugal's capital that took 16 victims in the beginning of September was caused by a faulty wire, as stated by the authoritative probe released on Monday.

This probe has urged that the city's comparable vehicles remain halted until their security can be fully confirmed.

Specifics of the Deadly Incident

The collision happened when the historic Elevador da Glória left the rails and smashed into a edifice, horrifying the capital and raising significant concerns about the security of ageing tourist attractions.

Portugal's transport safety authority (the bureau) reported that a line joining two compartments had come loose just before the crash on September 3rd.

Preliminary Findings

This initial report stated that the cable did not meet the specified standards outlined by the city's transport operator.

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

The 35-page analysis also urged that other cable cars in the capital must be kept out of service until inspectors can verify they have adequate braking systems able of stopping the vehicles in the scenario of a cable break.

Victims and Injuries

Of the sixteen fatalities, eleven were international visitors, featuring three British citizens, 2 citizens of South Korea, two citizens of Canada, a citizen of France, a citizen of Switzerland, one American, and one citizen of Ukraine.

The crash also hurt about 20 people, among them 3 Britons.

Among the Portuguese casualties comprised four workers from the identical welfare organization, whose offices are situated at the top of the sharp street serviced by the funicular.

Operational Context

This Glória was inaugurated in 1885, utilizing a method of weight compensation to propel its 2 compartments along its 265-metre track ascending and descending a steep slope.

Based on investigators, a routine check on the morning of the accident detected no anomalies with the wire that later failed.

The experts also stated that the operator had applied the funicular's stopping mechanism, but they were powerless to prevent the car without the support of the balancing mechanism.

The complete crash unfolded in only less than a minute, per the investigation.

Upcoming Steps

The agency is expected to release a conclusive document with security guidelines within the coming year, though an intermediary report may provide more updates on the progress of the investigation.