Lisbon, Portugal (AP). There were details about people who were killed when the Portuguese capital street car drove off the rails, as the first investigation report, which dealt with the popular attraction of Lisbon tourists, was released on Friday.
The exclusive yellow and white Elevador da Gloria, classified as a national monument, was packed with locals and international tourists Wednesday night when he left his rails. Sixteen people were killed and another 21 were injured.
Several agencies are investigating what Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro described as “one of the greatest tragedies of our recent past.”
The Government Air and Railway Investigation Service said it had completed a debris analysis and would announce a preliminary report on Friday. Nelson Oliveira, Chief Police Investigator, said the preliminary police report was expected within 45 days.
A tragedy outside of Portugal
The Portuguese Prosecutor General’s Office said Thursday that eight of the dead were found: five Portuguese, two South Korean and Swiss persons.
According to the recovered documents and other evidence, there is a “great opportunity” that victims are also two Canadians, one American, one German and one Ukrainian, says Luís Neles, Head of the National Investigation Police. Researchers are still trying to identify three victims.
Transport workers’ trade union Sitra said Streetcar Bakonan André Marques was among the dead.
Spaniards, Israelis, Portuguese, Brazilians, Italians and French were injured, said the Executive Director of the Portuguese National Health Service, Ilvar Santos Almeida. Five remained in severe condition.
“This tragedy … crosses our borders,” said Montenegro on television from its official residence. Last year, about 8.5 million tourists held in Lisbon, while long lines of people usually make a Streetcar short and picturesque journey a few hundred meters up and down on the city street. Thursday was National Mourning Day.
Hundreds of people attended the gloomy Mass on Thursday night in Lisbon’s magnificent Saint Dominic Church. Among the participants of the victims were Montenegro, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moed, some dressed in black, candle show.
The operator says the street car was checked daily
The electric street car, also known as funicular, is used by steel cables and can carry more than 40 people. Officials refused to comment on whether a defective brake or cable was captured, and could encourage the declining streetcar to be placed in a building where the city center road is outperforming.
“The city needs answers,” the mayor said, adding that talking about possible causes is “speculation.”
In addition to investigations by police, prosecutors and government transport experts, Carris, a company operating Lisbon Street cars and buses, said he had opened his investigation.
The Streetcar, which has been served since 1914, was planned to have a full maintenance program last year and the company carried out a 30 -minute visual inspection every day, Carris CEO said Pedro de British Bog on Thursday.
The Streetcar was last inspected at nine hours before the travelers, he said at a press conference, but he did not examine the visual inspection and did not state when doubt that all wires were tested.
The Lisbon City Council suspended the other three cable car operations until immediately inspections were carried out.
Tourists shocked
A 70 -year -old British tourist Felicity Ferriter said she had unpacked her suitcase at a nearby hotel when she heard a “terrific disaster.”
The couple saw a street car when they arrived and was about to drive on it the next day.
“It was supposed to be one of our holiday accents,” she said, adding, ‘It could have been.’
Francesca di Bello, a 23 -year -old Italian tourist on family holidays a few hours before the rails.
They walked around the accident on Thursday, expressing shock for debris. When asked if she would drive again with a funicular in Portugal or elsewhere, Di Bello was emphasized, “Definitely not.”
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Hernán Muñoz contributes to the report.