Lisbon funicular incident: authorities yet to disclose findings from initial investigation

In the heart of Portugal's capital city, Lisbon, a tragic event unfolded on Wednesday, September 3. The Gloria Funicular, a popular tourist attraction, was the scene of an unfortunate accident that claimed the lives of sixteen individuals, including a Franco-Canadian couple who were celebrating a special occasion.

André Bergeron, a 70-year-old Quebecois, and his wife, Blandine Daux, a 55-year-old restorer of heritage objects from the Vosges region of France, had come to Lisbon to celebrate André's retirement. They had two daughters who were not with them on this trip.

The funicular, which operates by having two cabins tow each other, connected by a cable, derailed on that fateful day. The cabin carrying André and Blandine went down two meters off the tracks. Simultaneously, the other cabin detached and slid down the slope at high speed.

The video filmed on the day of the tragedy shows the cabin that fell two meters down the tracks. Fortunately, there were only minor injuries inside that cabin. However, the cabin that crashed into a building did not report any injuries.

The investigation into the Gloria Funkelbahngeschweis case officially started three days after the disaster. The lead theory is the breakage of a safety cable. The exact cause of the breakage is still under investigation.

Blandine, originally from the Vosges, was known for her work as a restorer of heritage objects, much like her late husband. André, a proud Canadian, had spent his career in Quebec before retiring.

Their last day of vacation in Lisbon turned into a day of unspeakable tragedy. The community in Lisbon, as well as in Canada and France, mourn the loss of this loving couple. Our thoughts are with their family and friends during this difficult time.