15 People Dead After Lisbon's Historical Tourist Funicular Crashes
Lisbon's historic "Elevador da Gloria" funicular, a popular tourist attraction operating for 140 years, derailed and crashed into a building, leaving at least 15 dead and dozens more injured in a tragedy the city's mayor called "unprecedented."
An iconic Lisbon funicular, a popular attraction for tourists and residents alike, derailed and collapsed on Wednesday, resulting in a tragic accident that killed at least 15 people and injured 18 others. The "Elevador da Gloria" funicular, which has been in operation for 140 years, reportedly lost control while descending a steep street, eventually crashing into a building at around 6:00 p.m. local time.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene, with some passengers reportedly jumping from the funicular's windows as it hurtled out of control. Footage from the scene shows the demolished train car and a large number of emergency crews, including firefighters and paramedics, rushing to help. At least five of the injured are in serious condition, while the others, including a child, sustained minor injuries. Reports indicate that foreign nationals are among the deceased, but their nationalities have not yet been disclosed. No Israeli casualties have been reported.
Lisbon's Mayor, Carlos Moedas, expressed his sorrow at the scene, stating, "Lisbon is in mourning." He called the incident a "tragic accident" and "a tragedy we have never experienced before," before declaring three days of mourning for the city. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the disaster, which will begin after the rescue and recovery efforts are complete. The funicular's operator, for its part, claimed that "all maintenance procedures" were properly carried out before the tragic event.
The funicular is a cherished symbol of Lisbon, known for transporting passengers up and down the city's steep hills, connecting the lower city with the Bairro Alto district. Similar to other funiculars around the world, its cars are pulled by an underground cable system. The Gloria funicular consists of two cars, each capable of carrying up to 42 passengers, both seated and standing. The accident has shocked the city and its tourism industry, which relies heavily on these historic and popular modes of transport.
