A tragic accident with the Glória funicular in Lisbon has killed at least 17 people. In response, the Portuguese government has declared a national period of mourning. The fatal crash occurred around 6:10 PM on Wednesday evening. The funicular went out of control, killing 14 and leaving 23 more seriously injured after it crashed into a building on the hill. Federal investigators have already begun looking into Friday’s incident to determine what led to the bridge collapse. They want to give answers to the victims’ families and the public.
Government, Civil Protection and inquires President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that he hoped that investigators would quickly find out what caused such a horrific event. The death toll increased from 15 to 17 after two critically-injured patients died overnight. Margarida Castro Martins, head of Lisbon’s civil protection agency, reiterated that all the dead were adults. She underlined how serious the situation is with her bold statement.
Today, the Glória funicular is one of the most economical modes of transport in the city, transporting around three million passengers per year. It is one of three funicular lines run by Carris, the city’s transit authority. In emotional testimony, witnesses described the nightmarish conditions. The funicular “burst into the building with brutal force” and disintegrated, said Teresa d’Avó, a resident impacted by the detached cableway.
“It hit the building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box,” – Teresa d’Avó
Bruno Pereira recounted the moment the funicular collided with the building:
“A few seconds later, the other tram – which counterbalances this one – arrived, completely out of control, crashing into the walls, people screaming. It hit the last time at the curve between Calçada da Glória and Rua da Glória and stopped with a loud crash,” – Bruno Pereira
In response to the crash, Lisbon’s city council promptly moved to suspend operations of as many streetcars as possible. To ensure public safety, they ordered immediate inspections of all funiculars. Many hospitals across the entire Lisbon area are presently treating the injured passengers. Of them, three have suffered life-threatening injuries.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his sympathies, stating:
“We send all our love and solidarity to the families of the victims and to the Portuguese people at this difficult time. We also hope that those who have been injured will get better quickly.” – Pedro Sánchez
According to an Italian government spokesman, Antonio Tajani, Italy’s foreign minister expressed his condolences and solidarity with those affected by the tragedy.
The victims of this horrific accident included a diverse group of individuals: Portuguese citizens alongside two Germans, two Spaniards, and one person each from Canada, Cape Verde, France, Italy, Morocco, South Korea, and Switzerland. This tragedy hits home in so many ways. As families around the world grieve their lost loved ones, we are reminded of the international consequences.
Public prosecutors have opened an investigation into the circumstances of the crash. Preliminary findings indicate that Carris has maintained its fleet according to set standards and procedures. They claim that they’ve kept up with all routine maintenance inspections.
“All maintenance protocols have been carried out,” a representative from Carris stated.
Lisbon’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it “a tragedy that has never happened before in our city.” Tapper’s powerful message about urgency and solidarity underscored the necessity for action in this dark moment.
“Now is the time for action and help. I thank everyone for their response in just a few minutes. The only thing I can say is that it’s a very tragic day.” – Carlos Moedas
FWS and other authorities are still actively investigating what happened. They’re intent on finding out how any of this could happen in a city known for its picturesque beauty and tourist attraction. This tragic loss of life is a sobering reminder of the deadly vulnerabilities that can lurk in our day-to-day transit systems.