Portuguese authorities investigating the deadly derailment of the iconic yellow Gloria tram on September 3 have identified a broken cable as the apparent cause of the crash. Officials from the National Transport Office confirmed that the rest of the tram’s mechanism was functioning properly.
“After on-site investigations, it was immediately confirmed that the cable connecting the two tram cars had failed,” the statement said.
Despite attempts by the conductor to use the emergency brakes, the tram could not be stopped in time. The crash resulted in 16 fatalities and 20 injuries after the tram collided with a building.
The victims included five Portuguese, three British, two South Koreans, two Canadians, one American, one Ukrainian, one Swiss, and one French national.
The 140-year-old tram is designed to transport passengers through Lisbon’s steep neighborhoods and serves both as a vital local transport link and a popular tourist attraction. Investigators noted that the tram was traveling at approximately 60 km/h when it struck the building. The exact number of passengers on board at the time remains unclear, though the tram is designed to carry 40 passengers.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro described the accident as “one of the greatest tragedies in our recent history.”
