Lisbon streetcar accident claims 17 lives, amongst whom are Germans - Tram accident in Lisbon leaves 17 fatalities, among whom are Germans
In a shocking turn of events, Portugal has been plunged into mourning following the derailment of the historic funicular "Elevador da Gloria" in Lisbon on Wednesday evening. The accident, which occurred around 6:00 PM local time, has claimed the lives of 17 individuals and left 23 others injured.
The funicular, one of Lisbon's three historic funiculars, connects the central Praça dos Restauradores square with the higher-lying Bairro Alto district. Opened in 1885, it is primarily a tourist attraction but also used by locals. The cause of the derailment remains unknown, but experts suspect a cable may have snapped and possibly the brakes also failed.
The incident has sent shockwaves across the country, with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa urging for a swift investigation by the competent authorities. He called for the incident to be "quickly clarified." The Lisbon city administration has suspended the operation of all three funiculars and ordered immediate inspections.
This tragic accident, involving one of the three funiculars, which have been in operation since the 19th century, marks a grim first in Lisbon's history. Among the dead are foreign nationals, including Germans. The identities and nationalities of most victims are not yet known, but confirmed fatalities include five Portuguese nationals, one Swiss citizen, two South Koreans, three British, two Canadians, one American, one French person, one Ukrainian, and several passengers. Among the Portuguese victims were also four employees of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia, who regularly used the cable car for commuting.
The Institute of Legal Medicine aims to complete autopsies by the morning, while the Portuguese criminal police have launched an investigation into the derailment. The German Foreign Office has also confirmed that there are Germans among the dead. Several passengers jumped out of the windows and screamed during the accident.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has expressed her condolences to the victims' families, adding to the outpouring of sympathy from around the world. Lisbon's public transport company Carris asserts that monthly, weekly, and daily maintenance programs are carried out meticulously.
The "Elevador da Gloria" travels over a distance of around 265 meters and overcomes a height difference of around 45 meters. The second wagon at the bottom of the track appeared to be undamaged but was shaking violently at the time of the accident.
As Portugal mourns, the nation stands united in the face of this tragic event, offering prayers and support to the families of the victims and the injured. The derailment has highlighted the need for thorough investigations and safety measures to ensure such a tragedy does not occur again.
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