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The tragic funicular incident in Lisbon that cost 16 victims in the beginning of September was caused by a defective wire, per the formal probe released on Monday.

This probe has recommended that Portugal's capital's similar transports stay out of service until their safety can be completely assured.

Details of the Tragic Accident

This accident occurred when the old Elevador da Glória left the rails and smashed into a edifice, shocking the metropolis and raising serious fears about the reliability of historic landmarks.

The nation's air and rail accident investigations bureau (the bureau) stated that a wire joining two cars had come loose moments before the incident on 3 September.

Preliminary Results

This early report stated that the line failed to meet the mandatory specifications set by the local transport operator.

The line failed to comply with the standards mandated to be utilized for the Glória funicular.

This 35-page report also recommended that all funiculars in the city must be kept non-operational until experts can ensure they have effective braking systems able of stopping the cabins in the event of a wire failure.

Fatalities and Casualties

Of the sixteen casualties, 11 were foreign nationals, comprising three British individuals, 2 citizens of South Korea, 2 Canadians, one citizen of France, one citizen of Switzerland, an US national, and a Ukrainian national.

This incident also hurt around twenty individuals, comprising three UK nationals.

Among the local fatalities featured four workers from the identical care facility, whose workplace are situated at the peak of the steep alley serviced by the funicular.

Background Details

The Elevador da Glória first opened in the late 19th century, employing a method of balancing weights to drive its two compartments along its long path climbing and descending a sharp slope.

As per the bureau, a standard inspection on the day of the accident identified no issues with the cable that later failed.

The investigators also reported that the driver had activated the cable car's braking system, but they were powerless to prevent the carriage without the support of the balancing mechanism.

This entire incident occurred in only less than a minute, according to the investigation.

Upcoming Actions

The agency is anticipated to issue a conclusive analysis with operational recommendations within the coming year, though an interim report may offer additional details on the development of the probe.