Investigation Initiated over Lisbon Funicular Accident, Citing Power Interruption as Prime Suspect
Tragedy Strikes Lisbon: Deadly Funicular Accident Claims Lives of 16 Individuals
A tragic incident occurred in Lisbon on Wednesday evening, as a funicular accident claimed the lives of at least 16 individuals. The victims hailed from various countries, including Portugal, the United States, Canada, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, France, and Ukraine.
One of the Portuguese victims was Alda Matias, a dedicated worker at Santa Casa da Misericórdia, a charitable organisation in Portugal. Another victim was Blandine Daux, an archaeological conservator from Quebec, Canada, who was celebrating her husband André Bergeron's 70th birthday in Portugal. Mr. Bergeron was also among the victims.
The accident involved two cars of the Elevador da Glória funicular, a system that is not under the supervision of Portugal's transport authority. The car going downhill plunged off the tracks, crashing against a building in a free fall. The car traveling uphill, on the other hand, halted suddenly and fell backward, causing injuries to some passengers. At least 21 survivors of the accident were injured.
André Jorge Gonçalves Marques, the operator of the car that went off the tracks, was another Portuguese victim. Heather Hall, a professor from the College of Charleston, was the only American killed in the accident.
Concerns about the braking system and maintenance structure of the funicular have been raised by Portuguese transit workers for years. The funicular system has been outsourced for maintenance since at least 2007, with Mntc, a private Portuguese engineering company, holding the contract since 2019. However, the search results do not provide information about which company was responsible for the maintenance of the Elevador da Glória before the fatal accident in 2021.
The funicular had a previous accident in 2018, derailing without causing injuries. This incident was attributed to a "technical issue."
Kieran Corcoran contributed reporting for this article. Paula Sampaio, a colleague and friend of Ms. Matias, described her as approachable, kind, and calm.
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those affected by this devastating accident.
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