Portugal is reeling after a deadly derailment of the historic Gloria funicular in central Lisbon left 15 people dead and at least 18 injured, including several foreign nationals.
Authorities confirmed that five of the injured remain in serious condition.
The accident occurred around 18:05 on Wednesday near Avenida da Liberdade, when the bright yellow cable car reportedly lost control and slammed into a building. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed his “sympathy and solidarity” with the victims’ families, while Prime Minister António Costa’s government declared a national day of mourning.
Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas visited survivors at the hospital, calling it a “tragic moment for the city.” He will join a special cabinet session on Thursday to discuss the incident.
Eyewitnesses describe chaos
Footage circulating on social media showed the iconic carriage overturned, its structure mangled as smoke filled the air. Passengers and pedestrians were seen fleeing in panic.
One witness told Portuguese daily Observador that the vehicle appeared “out of control, without brakes.” Another described how the funicular “hit a building with brutal force and collapsed like a cardboard box.”
Authorities confirmed that several people were trapped in the wreckage and had to be rescued by emergency teams.
The Gloria funicular, a tourist landmark since its opening in 1885, is operated by Lisbon’s public transport company Carris. The operator said the system had undergone required four-yearly and biennial maintenance checks, as well as routine daily inspections.
Despite this, early reports suggest the braking system may have failed after a cable came loose, causing the carriage to race downhill uncontrollably. Investigations are being led by the national transport safety authority, criminal police, and Carris itself.
European leaders send condolences
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her condolences, while Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was “appalled by the terrible accident.”
The Gloria funicular, which links Restauradores Square to the Bairro Alto neighborhood over a steep 275-meter track, is a vital part of Lisbon’s transport network and a major tourist attraction. Its sudden collapse has shocked both residents and visitors at the height of the tourist season.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the total number of passengers on board at the time of the crash. The investigation into the cause of the derailment is expected to take weeks, with experts focusing on possible cable and brake system failures.
For now, Lisbon mourns the lives lost as questions mount over how one of the city’s most beloved landmarks turned into the site of its deadliest accident in years.
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