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This tragic cable car incident in Portugal's capital that took sixteen people in early September was caused by a faulty cable, per the official inquiry published on Monday.

This inquiry has urged that the city's equivalent cable cars stay non-operational until their security can be completely assured.

Specifics of the Tragic Accident

The collision took place when the historic Elevador da Glória left the rails and crashed into a structure, shocking the metropolis and raising grave concerns about the security of historic tourist attractions.

The country's air and rail accident investigations bureau (the bureau) stated that a cable connecting two compartments had detached shortly before the incident on September 3rd.

Early Findings

This early document confirmed that the cable failed to meet the required specifications set by the local transport operator.

This wire did not comply with the requirements mandated to be utilized for the Glória funicular.

This detailed analysis also urged that all inclined railways in the city ought to remain non-operational until experts can verify they have sufficient braking systems designed of immobilising the vehicles in the case of a wire failure.

Victims and Injuries

Of the sixteen casualties, eleven were non-Portuguese citizens, featuring three UK individuals, 2 citizens of South Korea, two Canadian nationals, one citizen of France, a Swiss, one citizen of the United States, and a Ukrainian.

The accident also injured around 20 people, including 3 UK nationals.

The Portuguese casualties featured 4 workers from the equivalent care facility, whose offices are positioned at the top of the steep street accessed by the funicular.

Historical Information

This Glória was inaugurated in 1885, using a mechanism of counterweights to propel its 2 wagons along its 265-metre track climbing and descending a steep slope.

Based on the bureau, a routine inspection on the morning of the accident identified no anomalies with the wire that later failed.

This probers also noted that the operator had applied the vehicle's brakes, but they were powerless to prevent the car without the assistance of the balancing mechanism.

The complete incident unfolded in only under a minute, per the investigation.

Upcoming Actions

This agency is anticipated to publish a final document with safety guidelines within the next year, though an interim report may offer further information on the progress of the inquiry.