Funicular's connecting cables in Lisbon's accident scene have been confirmed to have crashed, as per technical reports.

In the heart of Lisbon, a tragic incident unfolded on Wednesday, involving the city's iconic Elevador da Glória funicular. The funicular, established in 1885, operates under the management of Carris, the company responsible for public transportation in Lisbon.

The accident took place around 18:03 local time. The upper carriage, travelling approximately 170 meters, derailed at the beginning of a curve, while the lower carriage retreated about 10 meters, partially going off the track. The exact number of people inside the carriages at the time of the accident remains unknown.

Investigations reveal that the cable, which connects the two carriages, gave way at its fixing point in the carriage that derailed. This unfortunate event led to a loss of balance, causing the carriages to suddenly lose control. Despite the brake guard activating both the pneumatic and manual brakes immediately, they failed to stop or slow down the descending carriage, which collided with the upper carriage at a speed of approximately 60 km/h.

The system that activates these brakes functioned as intended, but it was not designed to immobilise the carriages in motion if they are not balanced by the cable that connects them.

It is worth noting that, according to the tests observed so far, the maintenance plan was up to date on the morning of the accident. The Elevador da Glória had a maintenance plan with major revisions every four years and daily visual inspections of visible safety elements. No anomalies were detected in the cable or the brake systems during the scheduled visual inspection on the morning of the accident.

The cable that gave way has a useful life of 600 days for this type of use and had been installed for 337 days. This raises questions about the cause of the cable's failure.

A criminal investigation is being carried out by the public prosecutor's office, and an internal audit with external advisors is being conducted by Carris, the manager of the funicular. The authorities are working diligently to uncover the cause of the accident and to ensure the safety of the public.

Sadly, 16 people lost their lives, and 23 were injured in this unfortunate incident. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy.

The Elevador da Glória, a cherished symbol of Lisbon, remains closed until further notice as investigations continue. The city and its people are left to mourn and reflect on this unfortunate event.

Funicular's connecting cables in Lisbon's accident scene have been confirmed to have crashed, as per technical reports.