Train disaster in Lisbon: historic journey ends in fatal derailment at popular tourist destination
The Gloria Funicular, a popular cable railway in Lisbon, derailed and crashed on Wednesday, resulting in a tragic incident that claimed at least 16 lives and injured 21 others.
The accident occurred on a steep cobbled street that links Restauradores Square to the Bairro Alto district. According to the Lisbon Firefighters Regiment, a cable detached along the line, causing the funicular to lose control.
The Gloria funicular can carry more than 40 passengers and consists of two streetcars connected by a steel cable. Each car operates as a counterweight to the other. Around three million passengers board the Gloria's carriages every year.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro confirmed the devastating death toll, while another member of SITRA trade union was among the victims. A three-year-old German boy survived the incident and was pulled from the debris by a police officer. His mother is stable after undergoing surgery on both legs.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Portugal is in a three-day mourning period, declared by the government. Events at Belém Palace, including a book festival, have been suspended. Lisbon City Council suspended operations of other streetcars and ordered immediate inspections.
Frantic rescue efforts were carried out after the crash, with emergency efforts involving more than two hours to extract all victims from the wreckage. The boy's father, initially reported dead, was later found to be hospitalized at São José Hospital.
Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also sent their condolences. The authority responsible for investigating the Gloria Funicular accident in Lisbon is the Portuguese Rail and Aviation Safety Authority (Autoridade Nacional de Segurança Rodoviária e Ferroviária), which oversees safety inspections and investigations of such incidents in Portugal.
Police investigators are inspecting the site, and the prosecutor general's office will open a formal investigation. The exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined. It is worth noting that another accident occurred on the same line in May 2018, but no one was killed.
This story has been updated with the revised death toll and updated information from police on casualties. Our thoughts are with the affected families during this difficult time.
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