What led to the collapse of the funicular Gloria, a tragedy that resulted in at least 16 dead. Investigators have published the first results
Police officers at the scene of the accident where the funicular Gloria derailed and collapsed by a building. Credit Line: Patricia de Meloreira / AFP / Profimedia
Problems at a cable would have caused the derailment of one of the most emblematic tourist attractions of Lisbon, the funicular Gloria, who derailed and struck a building on Wednesday night. At least 16 people died, and another 22 were injured, according to a preliminary report, quoted by Reuters.
The yellow wagon, similar to a tram, carrying passengers on a steep slope in the capital of Portugal, hit a building after leaving the rails on Wednesday, just a few meters from its wagon at the base of the hill.
The Office for the investigation of air and railway accidents in Portugal published the first preliminary report on the accident on Saturday.
According to the document, the cabins had taken “no more than six meters” when “they suddenly lost the balance force provided by the connecting cable”.
“Cabin No. 2 of the two of the Funicur Gloria suddenly began to move in the opposite direction, stopping about 10 meters away, after partially passed the end of the rail and the lower part of the winch at the end of the cable ditch,” the report shows.
“The cab no.
The report also stated: “The cabin mechanic immediately acted the pneumatic brake and hand brake to try to stop the movement. These actions had no effect on stopping or reducing speed, and the cabin continued to accelerate on the slope.”
The examination examination showed that “the connecting cable” was broken at the point of clamping of the cabin at the top of the hill, the document shows.
A final report will be published later.
