The official stated that various types of insurance will be involved in providing aid and compensation to the victims, starting with the “primary insurance, which is the Carris insurance, placed with the Fidelidade insurance company”.
Primarily, “the most significant is the civil liability towards passengers,” in the form of a “public passenger transport insurance,” which has, by law, a “minimum value.”
The APS president mentioned that this insurance acquired by Carris is above the minimum value, which is approximately seven million euros.
“It is undoubtedly an insurance that will be activated to compensate the families of the victims and the injured,” he stated.
“Additionally, there are property insurances concerning the circulating part, the machines themselves,” which also fall under the “Carris insurance,” he explained.
Furthermore, there are insurances from other companies, “for example, work accident insurance for anyone traveling, like returning from their job,” such as the employees of Santa Casa da Misericórdia among the victims, who “were returning home, hence, they are corporate insurances that could and surely will be activated,” he said.
Besides these, “there are also individual insurances,” as there were many tourists and “some Portuguese who might have individual insurances,” referenced as travel insurance or personal accident insurance “which could also be activated in such circumstances,” he explained.
The APS president mentioned it was still “premature” to determine the total amounts involved, as the assessment and estimation of the situation are ongoing.
Regarding the time frame, José Galamba de Oliveira couldn’t specify but assured, “the interest of the insurance companies is to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, as it helps the families in these difficult times.”
“Of course, if the issue can be resolved in a week or two, we surely won’t wait for months,” he emphasized, highlighting that this is “the spirit in past situations of this kind, like disasters from fires.”
Fidelidade expressed today its “total readiness” to provide assistance and facilitate the “necessary compensation and assistance processes” to the victims of the Gloria elevator derailment, which occurred on Wednesday.
The accident resulted in 16 fatalities, according to Civil Protection.
The derailment also caused two dozen injuries, among Portuguese and foreigners of various nationalities.
The government has declared a day of national mourning this Thursday.
The Glória elevator, managed by Carris, runs between Restauradores and Jardim de São Pedro de Alcântara in Bairro Alto over a 265-meter route and is very popular among tourists.
