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The tragic inclined railway accident in Portugal's capital that cost sixteen lives in early September was triggered by a damaged cable, per the official investigation released on Monday.

This probe has urged that the city's equivalent vehicles stay non-operational until their operational integrity can be thoroughly verified.

Particulars of the Tragic Incident

The accident took place when the 19th-century Elevador da Glória went off track and crashed into a edifice, shocking the city and raising grave worries about the security of historic tourist attractions.

The nation's transport safety authority (the bureau) noted that a cable joining two compartments had detached just before the incident on 3 September.

Initial Conclusions

This early report confirmed that the line was not up to the required standards established by the urban transit authority.

The wire was not in compliance with the requirements mandated to be employed for the Glória tram.

This comprehensive analysis additionally advised that the remaining funiculars in the city must be kept out of service until experts can ensure they have sufficient brakes capable of stopping the cabins in the case of a cable break.

Victims and Injuries

Of the sixteen fatalities, eleven were foreign nationals, including three UK nationals, two South Koreans, two Canadian nationals, a French national, one Swiss, an US national, and a citizen of Ukraine.

The accident also injured around 20 individuals, including 3 Britons.

Among the local casualties comprised four employees from the equivalent social care institution, whose premises are positioned at the top of the steep alley used by the cable car.

Operational Context

The Glória first opened in 1885, using a method of counterweights to move its two cars along its long path climbing and descending a steep incline.

As per the bureau, a standard check on the day of the incident found no anomalies with the wire that eventually broke.

This probers also reported that the conductor had activated the vehicle's stopping mechanism, but they were powerless to stop the vehicle without the function of the weight compensation system.

This complete crash unfolded in just less than a minute, according to the investigation.

Upcoming Steps

This agency is expected to issue a definitive document with safety suggestions within the coming year, though an intermediary report may deliver further details on the development of the investigation.