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This tragic cable car accident in Lisbon that cost sixteen lives in the start of the ninth month was triggered by a defective cable, according to the authoritative probe issued on Monday.

The probe has advised that the city's equivalent cable cars remain out of service until their security can be thoroughly confirmed.

Particulars of the Tragic Event

The collision occurred when the 19th-century Glória funicular left the rails and crashed into a building, shocking the city and raising serious concerns about the reliability of historic landmarks.

The country's air and rail accident investigations bureau (GPIAAF) reported that a wire joining two cars had disconnected just before the tragedy on September 3rd.

Preliminary Conclusions

This early report confirmed that the cable did not meet the required standards established by the urban transit authority.

This wire was not in compliance with the specifications currently applicable to be utilized for the Glória funicular.

The detailed analysis additionally advised that other cable cars in Lisbon must be kept suspended until experts can verify they have effective brakes capable of immobilising the vehicles in the event of a cable break.

Fatalities and Casualties

Among the sixteen victims, eleven were foreign nationals, comprising three British citizens, two South Koreans, 2 Canadians, a French national, one citizen of Switzerland, one US national, and a citizen of Ukraine.

The crash also hurt around 20 persons, including three British citizens.

Among the Portuguese fatalities comprised four workers from the identical care facility, whose workplace are positioned at the peak of the sharp side road serviced by the cable car.

Historical Context

This Elevador da Glória first opened in the late 19th century, using a mechanism of balancing weights to move its two compartments along its 265-metre route climbing and descending a steep incline.

As per investigators, a standard check on the date of the accident detected no issues with the wire that later failed.

This experts also stated that the operator had applied the cable car's braking system, but they were unable to prevent the carriage without the assistance of the weight compensation system.

This entire event unfolded in merely 50 seconds, according to the inquiry.

Upcoming Steps

This investigative body is expected to issue a final document with security recommendations within the following twelve months, though an intermediary update may offer more details on the development of the probe.