Portugal has declared national mourning after the crash of Lisbon’s 140-year-old Gloria funicular, one of the city’s most iconic attractions.
Fifteen people were killed and 18 injured, five of them in critical condition, when the funicular derailed and slammed into a building on the central Avenida da Liberdade on Wednesday afternoon (3 September). Authorities have yet to confirm the nationalities of the victims, though reports suggest that foreign nationals are among the dead.
Government and presidential response
Lisbon’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, visited survivors in hospital on Wednesday evening, calling it “a tragic moment for the city.” The Portuguese government declared a day of national mourning, while President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed his condolences and solidarity with the victims’ families.
An investigation into the causes of the disaster is underway, involving the operating company Carris, the National Transport Safety Authority, and the police.
Carris said the funicular had undergone all required checks, including quadrennial and biennial maintenance, as well as daily, weekly, and monthly inspections.
Witnesses: brakes failed
Witnesses reported that the brakes failed, sending the carriage hurtling downhill at high speed before it crashed into the building. Videos shared widely on social media showed the yellow funicular overturned and almost completely destroyed, with people fleeing as dust and debris filled the air.
Some eyewitnesses described the vehicle as “out of control, with no brakes,” while others said it “came down at full speed” and “hit the building with incredible force.”
Although investigators have yet to confirm the exact cause, there are reports that a cable slipped off its track, causing the operator to lose control.
Europe reacts with shock
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent condolences to the families of the victims, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was “shocked by the terrible accident.”
Based on reporting by CNN