An Ottawa local who survived a fatal funicular accident in Lisbon last month expressed astonishment over the revelations of a recent report on the event and is urging for increased responsibility from Portuguese authorities.

Hind Iguernane, along with her husband Aziz Benharref, was on the tram with 25 other passengers when it derailed on September 3 due to a snapped cable, leading to a rapid descent and a crash into a building that claimed Benharref’s life.

In an interview with CBC conducted over Zoom, Iguernane shared the profound impact of losing her husband in the tragedy, stating that while some days are manageable, others are significantly harder.

Currently recuperating with her parents in Morocco, Iguernane vividly recalls the incident, particularly the acrid smoke reminiscent of gunpowder that filled the air during the crash.

A recent preliminary report by Portugal’s Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Accidents in Civil Aviation and Rail highlighted several issues with the railway system, known as Ascensor da Gloria or the Gloria Lift. The report pointed out that Carris, one of Lisbon’s public transport companies, had utilized a cable not certified for transporting people.

Although the report did not definitively link the cable to the accident, it revealed that the car’s braking system failed to prevent the crash despite efforts to engage both manual and automatic brakes. Additionally, there were no records showing the emergency brake had been tested in a cable failure scenario. Technicians and employees associated with the funicular admitted to relying excessively on the cable for system safety.

Expressing shock at the report’s findings, Iguernane emphasized the gravity of the negligence involved, stating that the incident was not an accident but a consequence of serious oversight.

The investigative body clarified that the report does not assign liability or blame and a final report is anticipated next year. Subsequently, the entire board of directors of Carris, including chairman Pedro de Brito Bogas, resigned in response to the incident.

Despite these resignations, Iguernane believes that legal accountability is essential and has criticized the response as insufficient. She sustained a fractured hip and shoulder in the accident, leading to a prolonged period of bed rest. Her brother, Youness Iguernane, highlighted the family’s quest for transparency and accountability from Portuguese officials.

While contemplating legal action, Iguernane stressed that her husband’s death was not a mere accident and expressed disbelief that such a preventable tragedy occurred in modern-day Lisbon, questioning the promotion of the funicular as a symbol of the city and the nation.