Portugal is mourning after a tragic Accident in central Lisbon killed 15 people and injured at least 18 others. The crash involved the famous Gloria funicular, one of the city’s best-known landmarks.
The Accident happened on Wednesday evening around 18:05 near Avenida da Liberdade. The bright yellow carriage reportedly lost control while descending and slammed into a nearby building. The impact overturned the funicular and caused chaos in the area.
Authorities confirmed that five of the injured remain in serious condition. Several foreign nationals are among the victims. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed sympathy for the 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 meeting on Thursday to discuss the disaster.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as smoke filled the air. Video shared on social media showed the mangled funicular with people running for safety. One witness told local media the vehicle appeared “out of control, without brakes.” Another described how it hit the building “with brutal force.” Emergency teams worked for hours to rescue passengers trapped in the wreckage.
The Gloria funicular has been in operation since 1885 and is managed by the Lisbon transport company Carris. The operator said the system had passed all scheduled safety checks, including four-yearly, biennial, and daily inspections. Despite this, early investigations suggest a cable may have come loose, leading to a failure in the braking system.
European leaders shared their condolences. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez both expressed deep sadness over the deadly crash.
The Gloria funicular connects Restauradores Square with the Bairro Alto district and is a major tourist attraction. Authorities have not confirmed the total number of passengers on board. Investigations into the cause of the Accident are now underway, focusing on possible cable and brake failures.
For now, Lisbon grieves as it faces one of its deadliest transport tragedies in years.
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