Portugal has declared a national day of mourning after the Glória funicular, one of Lisbon’s most iconic landmarks, derailed and crashed into a building near Liberty Avenue, killing at least 15 people and injuring 18 others.
The crash occurred at around 18:15 local time (17:15 GMT) on Wednesday when the 140-year-old funicular, popular with tourists, lost control on its steep route through the city centre. Authorities said foreign nationals were among the dead, though the identities of the victims have not yet been confirmed. Five of the injured are in a serious condition.
Lisbon’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, said: “This is a tragic day for our city.”
Footage shared on social media showed the crumpled yellow carriage overturned in a cobblestone street as smoke filled the air, with people fleeing the scene. Emergency responders had to free several passengers trapped in the wreckage.
Officials have not confirmed the cause of the crash, but eyewitnesses reported a failure in the braking system. A witness told Portuguese broadcaster SIC: “The funicular hit a building with brutal force and collapsed like a cardboard box; it had no brakes.”
Another eyewitness, Teresa d’Avó, told Observador: “We all started running away because we thought the carriage was going to hit the one below. But it fell around the bend and crashed into a building.”
The Portuguese newspaper Observador reported that a cable came loose along the railway’s route, sending the funicular out of control before it struck the building. One witness told the paper the vehicle was “out of control, without brakes.”
Lisbon prosecutors, police and the national transport accident investigation department have launched an inquiry into the disaster. The city’s public transport operator, Carris, said it had complied with all safety checks. In a statement, it said: “All maintenance protocols were followed. Interim maintenance was carried out last year and regular monthly and weekly checks had been done. We are very sorry about what happened.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed sympathy, saying she sent her condolences to the families of the victims. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was “appalled by the terrible accident”, while Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also sent his condolences.
The Glória funicular, first opened in 1885 and electrified three decades later, is one of Lisbon’s best-known attractions. Painted bright yellow, it carries passengers on a steep 275m route from Restauradores Square up to Bairro Alto, completing the journey in three minutes.
Boluwatife Enome
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