LISBON — Portuguese authorities were expected on Friday to release preliminary findings on what caused the fatal derailment of one of Lisbon’s famous funicular trains, which killed 16 people.
The agency responsible for investigating air and rail accidents is set to publish a preliminary report on the circumstances of Wednesday’s tragedy “probably within 45 days,” chief police investigator Nelson Oliveira said on Thursday evening.
But a first report would be published before the end of Friday, he added.
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Speaking alongside Oliveira at a press conference, judicial police chief Luis Neves said the investigation would not rule out any potential causes.
“Nothing is out of the question,” he said. “We have to stay open-minded.”
Sixteen people were killed when the yellow funicular, a cherished symbol of the popular tourist destination, flew off the rails on Wednesday.
Eyewitness accounts described the wagon speeding down the steep street before derailing at a slight bend and crashing into a building at around 6 p.m. (local time).
Fifteen people — eight men and seven women — were killed instantly and one person died later in the hospital, emergency services said, while more than 20 people were injured.
Police said on Friday that the toll included five Portuguese, three Britons, two South Koreans, two Canadians, one Frenchwoman, one Swiss, one American and one Ukrainian.
Contrary to information released the previous day, no German citizens were among the victims, police said.
At least 11 foreigners were among the injured — two Germans, two Spaniards, a Frenchwoman, an Italian, a Swiss citizen, a Canadian, a South Korean, a Moroccan and a Cape Verdean, emergency services said.
Local media speculation about the cause of the accident has ranged between ruptured security cables and maintenance work overseen by Lisbon’s public transport operator Carris.
But a daily inspection conducted on the morning of the tragedy indicated a smooth operating system.
Preliminary report on Lisbon funicular accident expected
“Everything was scrupulously respected,” said Carris chief Pedro Bogas.
The derailed streetcar was removed from the street on Friday morning, restoring a semblance of normality to the site of the tragedy.
Preliminary report on Lisbon funicular accident expected
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