Damaged Wire Resulted in Portuguese Capital Cable Car Accident, Investigation Finds

The fatal cable car incident in Lisbon that took 16 lives in the start of the ninth month was triggered by a damaged cable, as stated by the official inquiry published on Monday.

This investigation has advised that the city's similar vehicles remain halted until their operational integrity can be thoroughly confirmed.

Details of the Deadly Event

The collision occurred when the 19th-century Glória cable car left the rails and collided into a edifice, stunning the capital and highlighting serious concerns about the reliability of older landmarks.

The country's transport safety authority (GPIAAF) stated that a cable connecting two cars had detached shortly before the crash on September 3rd.

Preliminary Results

This preliminary document confirmed that the line did not meet the required specifications outlined by the urban transit authority.

The cable did not comply with the specifications currently applicable to be employed for the Glória tram.

The detailed report also advised that all cable cars in the capital should remain out of service until authorities can ensure they have effective braking systems designed of stopping the cabins in the event of a wire failure.

Victims and Harm

Of the 16 casualties, eleven were international visitors, including three British individuals, two citizens of South Korea, two citizens of Canada, one Frenchwoman, one Swiss national, one US national, and a citizen of Ukraine.

This accident also hurt about twenty people, including 3 British citizens.

The local casualties included 4 staff members from the same welfare organization, whose workplace are positioned at the peak of the sharp alley serviced by the inclined railway.

Operational Information

This Glória funicular was inaugurated in 1885, utilizing a system of weight compensation to propel its 2 cars along its 265-metre path up and down a steep hill.

According to investigators, a standard examination on the day of the accident found nothing unusual with the cable that subsequently broke.

This probers also reported that the conductor had engaged the cable car's brakes, but they were powerless to stop the carriage without the assistance of the counterweight system.

The whole crash occurred in only under a minute, according to the investigation.

Next Actions

This investigative body is scheduled to release a final analysis with security suggestions within the following twelve months, though an preliminary report may deliver more details on the status of the investigation.

Joshua Francis
Joshua Francis

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about innovation and self-improvement, sharing insights from years of experience.