An Ottawa resident who survived a fatal funicular accident in Lisbon last month expresses dismay over a recent report on the incident, urging greater accountability from Portuguese authorities. Hind Iguernane and her husband Aziz Benharref were passengers on the tram when a cable failure caused it to derail on September 3, resulting in a crash that claimed Benharref’s life.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Iguernane, now recuperating in Morocco, vividly recalls the events, including the acrid smell of smoke reminiscent of gunpowder. The recent preliminary report by Portugal’s Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Accidents in Civil Aviation and Rail highlighted various safety issues with the Ascensor da Gloria, or the Gloria Lift, where the accident occurred.
The report revealed that Carris, Lisbon’s public transport company, had utilized a non-certified cable for transporting passengers. It also noted the ineffectiveness of the tram’s braking system, with no evidence of emergency brake testing in cable failure scenarios. The report emphasized the overreliance on the cable for system safety.
Iguernane expressed shock and frustration at the report’s findings, attributing the incident to serious negligence rather than an unavoidable accident. While the report does not assign blame, it serves as a critical examination of the lapses that led to the crash. Following the incident, the entire board of directors of Carris resigned, but Iguernane insists on legal repercussions for those responsible.
Suffering from injuries including a fractured hip and shoulder, Iguernane awaits medical clearance before returning to Ottawa. Her brother, Youness Iguernane, stressed the family’s pursuit of accountability and transparency from Portuguese officials, emphasizing the need for closure and acknowledgment from the authorities.
Iguernane remains resolute in seeking justice for her husband’s death, rejecting the notion of the accident as a mere stroke of bad luck. While contemplating legal action, she questions how such a preventable tragedy could occur in a modern city like Lisbon and calls for a reassessment of the funicular’s symbolic status in the country.
The family continues to seek answers and closure, highlighting the emotional toll and the importance of holding accountable those responsible for the devastating incident.