Cause of Lisbon tragedy: snapping of the cable connecting two funicular cabins

(Patria) - In the deadly accident of the Lisbon funicular "Gloria", the cable connecting the two cabins snapped, despite the brakeman immediately activating the brakes.

This was stated in the first official report on the tragedy, writes Sky News.

The funicular cabins had traveled only six meters when they "suddenly lost the balancing force of the connecting cable".

According to the report by the Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Aviation and Railway Accidents, the brakeman immediately "activated the pneumatic brake, as well as the hand brake".

Unfortunately, these measures had no effect in reducing the vehicle's speed, the report adds.

The cabin continued to accelerate uncontrollably and jumped off the tracks at a speed of about 60 km/h, with the entire catastrophe unfolding in less than 50 seconds.

Although questions have arisen about equipment maintenance, the report states that, based on evidence collected so far, it was regular.

It was confirmed that the scheduled visual inspection was carried out on the very morning of the accident, but the problem was that the area where the cable snapped "is not visible without disassembly".

The "Gloria" funicular, which is also a national monument, is extremely popular among tourists in the capital of Portugal.

It connects Restauradores Square in central Lisbon with the Bairro Alto district. The ride, only 265 meters long, lasts three minutes.

The accident occurred on Wednesday around 6 p.m., when the upper cabin jumped off the tracks and crashed into a building 30 meters from the base of the line.

Sixteen people died in the tragedy, most of whom were foreign tourists. Among the victims were British nationals Kayleigh Smith (36) and William Nelson (44), as well as another unnamed person from the United Kingdom.

Five Portuguese nationals also died, four of whom were workers of a charitable organization.