Lisbon Funicular Crash Leaves 17 Dead and Dozens Injured in Portugal
LISBON, Portugal — Seventeen people have died and 21 others were injured in a devastating Lisbon funicular crash that shocked the nation and the international tourism community. The accident involved the Gloria Funicular, one of the city’s most famous attractions, making it one of the deadliest Lisbon accidents in recent history.
Officials confirmed Thursday that two of the initially injured later died in hospital, raising the total fatalities. The Lisbon funicular accident occurred Wednesday evening around 6 p.m. local time, when the funicular railway lost control on a steep hill and crashed violently into a building in central Lisbon, Portugal.
International Victims Among the Injured
Margarida Castro Martins, head of Lisbon's Civil Protection Agency, confirmed that all those who died were adults. While nationalities were not released, she said the injured included Portuguese citizens along with tourists from Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Morocco, South Korea, and Cape Verde.
The presence of so many foreign nationals highlights how popular the Lisbon funicular railway—particularly the Gloria Funicular Lisbon—is with international travelers.
National Day of Mourning Declared in Portugal
The Portuguese government declared a national day of mourning Thursday, following what officials described as Lisbon’s worst transport disaster in decades. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed condolences to families, while Lisbon’s Mayor Carlos Moedas said: “It’s a tragedy of the like we’ve never seen.”
The transport workers’ union SITRA confirmed that André Marques, the brakeman of the Lisbon Gloria Funicular, was among the dead.
How the Lisbon Funicular Crash Happened
The funicular crash Lisbon Portugal occurred when the historic Gloria Funicular—a 19th-century funicular railway inaugurated in 1885—derailed on a sharp curve. Witnesses reported that the funicular Lisbon tram appeared to lose its brakes before slamming into a building.
“It had no brakes. It hit the building with brutal force and collapsed like cardboard,” eyewitness Teresa d’Avó told SIC Television.
Emergency services worked for over two hours to rescue passengers trapped inside the crumpled wreckage.
Investigations Underway
Detectives from Portugal’s judicial police inspected the crash site Thursday morning, photographing rails and wreckage. Authorities have not confirmed whether a cable failure or brake malfunction caused the Lisbon Portugal funicular accident.
Carris, the company that operates the Lisbon funiculars, said maintenance had been carried out prior to the crash. In a statement, it expressed condolences to the victims’ families and pledged full cooperation in the investigation.
As a safety precaution, Lisbon’s City Council suspended operations of three other famous Lisbon funiculars until inspections are completed.
Gloria Funicular Lisbon: From Landmark to Tragedy
The Gloria Funicular Lisbon, also called the Elevador da Glória, is one of Portugal’s most iconic transport systems. It connects Restauradores Square to the Bairro Alto neighborhood, making it a must-see attraction for tourists exploring Lisbon Portugal.
Recognized as a national monument, the Lisbon funicular railway usually attracts long lines of passengers eager to ride its historic yellow cars. In 2024, Lisbon welcomed more than 8 million tourists, many of whom rode the Lisbon tram and funicular railways.
Lisbon in Mourning
Flags were lowered across Lisbon Portugal as residents and tourists alike grieved the Lisbon funicular crash. Families of victims gathered at local hospitals, while investigators continued their work at the crash site.
“It’s more than a Lisbon tram accident,” Mayor Moedas said. “It’s a wound for the entire country.”
As Portugal mourns, the Gloria Funicular crash Lisbon stands as a tragic reminder of how a beloved landmark turned into one of the darkest days in the history of Lisbon news.
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