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The fatal inclined railway crash in Portugal's capital that cost sixteen lives in the beginning of September was caused by a defective wire, per the formal inquiry published on Monday.

The probe has advised that the city's equivalent cable cars remain non-operational until their safety can be fully assured.

Details of the Devastating Accident

The crash happened when the 19th-century Glória cable car derailed and smashed into a building, stunning the capital and sparking serious fears about the reliability of historic landmarks.

Portugal's air and rail accident investigations bureau (the bureau) stated that a wire connecting two cabins had come loose just before the tragedy on the third of September.

Early Findings

The preliminary analysis confirmed that the cable was not up to the mandatory standards established by the city's transport operator.

This line was not in compliance with the standards currently applicable to be employed for the Glória funicular.

This 35-page analysis also advised that all cable cars in the capital ought to remain non-operational until authorities can verify they have effective brakes designed of immobilising the cars in the case of a cable break.

Victims and Casualties

Of the 16 victims, eleven were non-Portuguese citizens, including three British nationals, 2 Korean nationals, two citizens of Canada, one Frenchwoman, one Swiss, one citizen of the United States, and a Ukrainian national.

The incident also injured approximately 20 people, among them 3 British citizens.

The Portuguese fatalities included 4 workers from the same care facility, whose offices are situated at the summit of the steep street serviced by the cable car.

Historical Information

This Glória began operation in the late 19th century, using a system of weight compensation to drive its two wagons along its long track up and down a steep incline.

According to the bureau, a routine inspection on the day of the accident found nothing unusual with the wire that subsequently snapped.

The experts also stated that the driver had activated the vehicle's braking system, but they were unable to prevent the car without the function of the weight compensation system.

The complete incident transpired in merely 50 seconds, according to the probe.

Next Steps

This bureau is expected to release a final report with operational guidelines within the coming year, though an preliminary document may offer additional details on the progress of the investigation.