Following Saturday's tragedy at Kaprun,
authorities have yet to discover the cause of the explosion
that has claimed over 150 lives.
On Tuesday of this week, investigators
found an oily substance, offering the first potential clue.
Forensic technicians have as yet refused to give information
about the substance other than it is being chemically analyzed
and appears similar in consistency to a lubricant.
With the cause of the accident in
doubt, yesterday (Wednesday) it seemed a possibility that
similar French funicular railways in Tignes, Val d'Isere
and Les Deux Alpes may be closed for safety checks.
The Dome Express funicular at Les Deux
Alpes and the Funival at Val d’Isère have both yet to open
for the seaosn, but Tignes’ Perce Neige funicular, which
carries 335 passengers on each trip, has been running every
day since the accident.
The National Association of Funicular
Operators advised that all are already checked once a week
as are the tunnel exits. However, despite the fact that
the three French railways are not the same make as the one
in Kaprun, it may be that there are extra checks on cables,
brakes, cars and in particular fire extinguishers.
The planned
reopening of the Mont Blanc tunnel in March next year
may also be delayed due to safety fears. French fireman
insist that they have not been consulted sufficiently. The
tunnel has been closed for 20 months after a fatal fire
which killed 39 people in March 1999.
Initial Accident
Report
Kitzsteinerhorn Victims' Fund
Following the tragedy in Kaprun,
a fund has been set up to help with the recovery operation.
If you would like to donate, the details are as follows:
Name of account: Victims of Kitzsteinhorn fund
Bank: Raiffeisen Bank, Kaprun
Sort code: 35 11 2
Account number: 10 12 11 1
