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This fatal cable car incident in Lisbon that cost 16 victims in the beginning of September was triggered by a damaged wire, as stated by the authoritative probe released on Monday.

This probe has urged that the city's equivalent vehicles remain out of service until their security can be thoroughly confirmed.

Details of the Tragic Event

This collision took place when the historic Elevador da Glória went off track and collided into a structure, stunning the capital and sparking significant fears about the security of older tourist attractions.

The country's air and rail accident investigations bureau (the investigative body) stated that a cable linking two compartments had detached moments before the crash on 3 September.

Initial Results

This early document stated that the wire failed to meet the mandatory requirements established by the urban public transport company.

The line failed to comply with the requirements currently applicable to be used for the Glória tram.

This detailed report also advised that other inclined railways in the capital ought to stay suspended until experts can verify they have sufficient brakes capable of halting the vehicles in the case of a wire failure.

Fatalities and Injuries

Among the sixteen fatalities, 11 were foreign nationals, including three British individuals, 2 Korean nationals, 2 citizens of Canada, one Frenchwoman, a Swiss, one US national, and a citizen of Ukraine.

The accident also hurt around 20 people, comprising three Britons.

Among the national casualties included 4 employees from the same social care institution, whose offices are situated at the top of the steep side road used by the inclined railway.

Operational Context

The Glória first opened in 1885, using a system of weight compensation to move its 2 cars along its 265-metre path ascending and descending a precipitous slope.

As per authorities, a routine inspection on the date of the crash detected no anomalies with the cable that subsequently snapped.

This probers also stated that the operator had engaged the cable car's brakes, but they were unable to stop the carriage without the support of the weight compensation system.

This entire crash transpired in only under a minute, as stated by the inquiry.

Next Steps

The bureau is expected to publish a final report with operational recommendations within the next year, though an intermediary report may provide more details on the status of the probe.