Cable Snapped Before Lisbon Funicular Crash That Killed 16, Investigators Say
A cable connecting two cabins broke shortly before the fatal funicular accident in Lisbon this week, which claimed 16 lives. The incident occurred hours after the cable had undergone a routine visual inspection, according to accident investigators.
The details were disclosed in a report released by Portugal’s air and rail accident investigations bureau (GPIAAF) regarding Wednesday’s crash.
“Available evidence indicates that scheduled maintenance was current, and a planned visual inspection was carried out on the morning of the accident, revealing no issues with the cable or braking systems,” the agency stated.
However, the portion of the cable that detached before the crash was not visually accessible during the inspection, the report noted.
Initial findings suggest the funicular was traveling at 60 km/h (37 mph) when the crash occurred. The entire event unfolded in just 50 seconds, investigators added.
Officials confirmed that 11 foreign nationals were among the 16 victims, including three Britons, two South Koreans, two Canadians, one French citizen, one Swiss national, one American, and one Ukrainian.
Around 20 people were injured, at least 11 of whom were foreign nationals, according to emergency responders.
Among the Portuguese victims were four employees from the same social care institution, based at the top of the hillside route serviced by the funicular.
Two separate investigations are now in progress: one by the accident investigators’ office and another by prosecutors. The GPIAAF emphasized that the two inquiries are entirely independent.
A preliminary report on the accident is expected within 45 days.
Local media had previously speculated about potential causes, including damaged high-tension cables and maintenance practices overseen by Lisbon’s public transport operator, Carris.
Carris’s director, Pedro Bogas, has maintained that the company adheres strictly to maintenance protocols.
Reports from the morning of the accident documented no operational anomalies during the daily inspection.
Data indicates that ridership on Lisbon’s three funicular lines, operated by Carris, rose by 53% between 2022 and 2024, reaching 1.5 million passengers last year.
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