A construction worker died earlier this month during a landslide at the Teatro Aberto renovation site in Campolide, Lisbon. The family expresses frustration over the lack of information regarding the cause of his death and the absence of contact from the entities involved in the project where Fernando Teixeira lost his life.
The 59-year-old, originally from Braga, had taken a job in Lisbon to be closer to his son, who was expecting a child soon. However, his time in the city turned tragic on November 7, when a landslide occurred at the theater’s renovation site. Fernando was buried under the earth and succumbed to his injuries.
The son demands a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the accident and criticizes the lack of communication from the involved parties, including Lisbon’s Urban Rehabilitation Services (SRU), the City Council, and Ruce, the company he was employed by.
Companies express condolences and react with “shock”
All contacted entities expressed their condolences for the tragic accident. “It was a shock for everyone,” said a source from Lisbon’s SRU, emphasizing that “following this unfortunate accident, all construction activities were immediately halted, pending the investigation into the causality.”
The same source noted that “the family was directly contacted by the employer, the contractor in charge of the project, with such efforts accompanied by Lisbon SRU.”
Ruce, the responsible company where the victim was employed, expressed “deep condolences for the death.” A company representative stated that “the firm is fully cooperating with the competent authorities investigating the accident’s circumstances,” refraining from further comments “out of respect for the family and ongoing legal processes.”
Incident under investigation
Inquiries regarding the cause of the landslide that resulted in the man’s death from Braga revealed that the SRU Lisbon attributes the responsibility for investigating the work accident to the Labor Conditions Authority (ACT), which “is undertaking necessary actions with the contractor and the security oversight hired by Lisbon SRU to monitor all activities.”
The ACT, upon being contacted, stated that “all employees are bound by professional confidentiality, making it impossible to provide information about ongoing procedures.”
The municipal urban rehabilitation company referred to the renovation project, initiated in May 2025, and underlined that there had been no complaints regarding safety regulations. It noted that in its 20 years of operation, such an incident had never occurred, and it understands the family’s wish to determine the consequences.
It should be noted that the Teatro Aberto expansion aims to provide the venue with new spaces to support its cultural activities, such as a workshop studio and a covered terrace, and to improve accessibility through better circulation and access.
