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This tragic cable car crash in Portugal's capital that cost sixteen victims in the beginning of September was caused by a defective wire, per the official inquiry issued on Monday.

This inquiry has urged that Lisbon's similar transports remain non-operational until their safety can be fully verified.

Specifics of the Deadly Event

The crash happened when the historic Glória funicular went off track and collided into a building, stunning the metropolis and raising serious worries about the security of historic visitor sites.

Portugal's air and rail accident investigations bureau (the bureau) reported that a line connecting two cars had come loose just before the crash on 3 September.

Early Conclusions

The initial document confirmed that the cable did not meet the mandatory specifications established by the city's transit authority.

The line did not comply with the standards currently applicable to be used for the Glória funicular.

The comprehensive report further advised that other inclined railways in Lisbon should stay non-operational until experts can ensure they have sufficient stopping mechanisms able of immobilising the cabins in the scenario of a line snap.

Victims and Harm

Of the sixteen fatalities, 11 were foreign nationals, including three British nationals, 2 citizens of South Korea, two Canadian nationals, a French national, one Swiss national, one citizen of the United States, and a Ukrainian.

The incident also injured approximately twenty people, including three Britons.

Among the national casualties included 4 employees from the equivalent care facility, whose workplace are positioned at the summit of the sharp alley accessed by the inclined railway.

Operational Details

This Glória funicular first opened in the late 19th century, employing a mechanism of balancing weights to drive its two wagons along its 870-foot track up and down a sharp slope.

As per authorities, a regular inspection on the date of the accident identified no anomalies with the wire that eventually broke.

The probers also stated that the operator had activated the funicular's braking system, but they were unable to stop the car without the support of the counterweight system.

This whole crash unfolded in just under a minute, per the inquiry.

Future Actions

The agency is scheduled to publish a final analysis with safety guidelines within the coming year, though an preliminary report may offer more details on the development of the inquiry.