Carlos Moedas promised an emergency fund for the families of the Elevador da Glória victims, but the City Council has no intention of using it. Filipe Anacoreta Correia, vice-president in the last public participation as such, said he believes that insurers will guarantee the necessary help. “We shouldn’t save insurance companies money. That’s what was missing, it’s their duty to respond to these needs”, advocated for journalists at the end of the third extraordinary meeting of the Lisbon City Council to assess news regarding the tragedy that killed 16 people.
Filipe Anacoreta Correia understands that “the fund is to cover the expenses of people who were victims of the accident” and highlights that “what was said unequivocally by the President of the Chamber, and also by me, is that there is total availability to set up the fund for expenses that are necessary.”
Despite stressing availability, he believes that it will not be necessary, because “Carris has contracted, because it paid for it, coverage of up to 50 million euros”, considering this reserve to be “broad coverage”, which allows it to guarantee that “all people’s expenses are covered” and that “possibilities for agreement” are already emerging.
The post-election meeting had no new data about Elevador da Glória. Carlos Moedas was present, but did not speak to journalists. The PS, through councilor Pedro Anastácio, asked for “guarantees of total commitment to support the victims”, remembering that “the fund has not progressed, and the desire to implement it has not been denied”. He highlighted that it has been said that “the insurance company has assumed the payment of all expenses.”
Based on the information that DN was able to collect from the City Council, all necessary help has been given, both travel and funerals have already been covered by the insurance company and there is active work to seek to resolve procedures and possible financial claims.
However, it was also assumed to the DN that there was some delay and difficulty in obtaining contact information for the victims’ families, especially foreigners, the vast majority. This will have led to complaints from citizens. They assure our newspaper that, from the moment the contact was made, the insurance companies began to help the family members. Remember that RTP reported that the victims had not been contacted by Moedas.