Non-national individuals among the casualties in Lisbon funicular accident
A tragic incident occurred in Lisbon, Portugal, as a funicular train crash claimed the lives of 16 people, including five Portuguese and eleven foreign nationals. A memorial mass was held for the four Portuguese victims who were members of staff from the same social care institution.
The foreign nationals killed were three Britons, two South Koreans, two Canadians, one Frenchwoman, one Swiss, one American, one Ukrainian, and one individual from the United States. Contrary to earlier reports, no German citizens were among the victims, but three Germans were among the 20 people injured, including a three-year-old child.
The exact cause of the crash is still unknown, but the Portuguese agency responsible for investigating air and rail accidents, the Accident Investigation Board, plans to publish its "first confirmed findings" later on Friday. Judicial police chief Luis Neves stated that the investigation will not rule out any potential causes, keeping an open mind.
Local media speculation suggests the cause of the crash could be due to ruptured high-tension cables or maintenance work overseen by Lisbon's public transport operator Carris. However, Pedro Bogas, the head of Carris, insists that the company's equipment maintenance policy was scrupulously followed, and the problem may not necessarily lie in the cable. Carlos Minerio Aires, a former head of Portugal's engineering regulatory body, believes the focus of the investigation should be on something unusual that caused the cable to snap.
The crash involved the century-old Gloria funicular, one of three funiculars operated by Carris in Lisbon. According to a report published by the daily Expresso, the number of passengers using these funiculars jumped by 53% between 2022 and 2024, to 1.5 million passengers last year. Maintenance costs for the funiculars remained stable, as reported by Expresso.
Debris from the Gloria funicular was cleared overnight, restoring a semblance of normality to the street where the disaster took place. A preliminary report regarding the funicular crash in Lisbon will be published within 45 days, as announced by Nelson Oliveira.
Eleven foreign nationals were among the 16 people killed in the crash. At least 11 foreigners were among the 20 people injured. Local media reported that one of the two yellow cars on the funicular derailed on a bend and smashed into a building.
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those affected by this tragic incident. As the investigation continues, we will keep you updated on any new developments.
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