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This tragic funicular crash in Portugal's capital that cost 16 victims in early September was attributed to a defective cable, per the official inquiry issued on Monday.

This inquiry has recommended that Portugal's capital's equivalent cable cars remain out of service until their operational integrity can be completely verified.

Details of the Tragic Accident

The crash happened when the historic Elevador da Glória derailed and crashed into a edifice, stunning the metropolis and highlighting grave concerns about the safety of historic tourist attractions.

The country's transport safety authority (GPIAAF) stated that a wire connecting two cabins had disconnected moments before the incident on 3 September.

Preliminary Conclusions

The preliminary analysis confirmed that the cable did not meet the mandatory specifications outlined by the city's transit authority.

This wire failed to comply with the requirements mandated to be employed for the Glória cable car.

The comprehensive report also advised that other cable cars in the capital must stay non-operational until experts can confirm they have adequate stopping mechanisms capable of halting the vehicles in the case of a line snap.

Casualties and Harm

Of the 16 fatalities, 11 were foreign nationals, featuring 3 UK citizens, two South Koreans, two Canadians, one French national, one citizen of Switzerland, one American, and a Ukrainian national.

This crash also harmed around 20 persons, among them three UK nationals.

The local casualties included four employees from the equivalent welfare organization, whose offices are positioned at the top of the sheer alley used by the funicular.

Historical Information

This Glória first opened in 1885, utilizing a method of balancing weights to drive its two cars along its 265-metre path up and down a precipitous incline.

According to authorities, a regular examination on the morning of the incident found nothing unusual with the line that subsequently snapped.

This probers also noted that the conductor had applied the funicular's brakes, but they were unable to stop the carriage without the function of the balancing mechanism.

This whole crash unfolded in only under a minute, as stated by the probe.

Next Steps

This investigative body is scheduled to issue a final report with operational recommendations within the next year, though an intermediary update may deliver additional information on the status of the investigation.