Initial findings from a government investigation have revealed that a cable linking two carriages broke prior to the tragic derailment of a Lisbon funicular on Wednesday, which resulted in the loss of 16 lives.
“From the on-site study of the wreckage, it was immediately clear that the cable connecting the two cabins had given way at its attachment point,”
the report released on Saturday by Portugal’s authority overseeing railway and air traffic incidents stated. The cable that failed had been installed for less than a year, with an expected lifespan of at least another 263 days before any replacement was necessary.
Details of the incident
According to the investigators, the brakeman of one of the carriages attempted to apply the brakes; however, this action was insufficient to avert the disaster. The two carriages had only traveled a short distance of six meters from their respective stations around 6 p.m. on Wednesday when the critical cable snapped.
Casualties and upcoming elections
The tragic incident claimed the lives of 16 individuals, including 11 foreign nationals: five Portuguese, two South Koreans, one Swiss, three British, two Canadians, one Ukrainian, one American, and one French citizen.
As the city grapples with the aftermath of this catastrophe, local elections are approaching next month. The incumbent mayor, Carlos Moedas, a former European Commissioner, is campaigning for a second term.