- Sixteen people have died and more than 20 others were injured following a crash involving Lisbon’s historic Glória funicular.
- Authorities have launched multiple investigations, and the city’s entire funicular system has been suspended pending technical inspections.
Portuguese authorities have confirmed that 16 people were killed and over 20 injured in a crash involving the Glória funicular railway in Lisbon on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. The incident occurred when one of the carriages derailed and collided with a building near the bottom of the line.
Among the deceased are foreign nationals from Canada, Germany, Ukraine, South Korea, Switzerland, and Portugal. A three-year-old German boy was rescued from the wreckage, while his father was confirmed dead and his mother remains hospitalized. The crash also claimed the life of a brake guard and four employees of a local charity who regularly used the funicular for commuting.
The city’s public transport operator, Carris, has suspended operations on all funicular lines, including Glória, Lavra, Bica, and Graça, pending full technical inspections. Carris stated that maintenance protocols had been followed prior to the crash, including daily checks, and that no faults were detected during the last inspection.
Initial reports suggest that a snapped traction cable may have caused the carriage to descend uncontrollably. The second carriage, located at the bottom of the slope, was not damaged but was removed for analysis. Emergency responders worked to free trapped passengers, and the wreckage has since been cleared from the site.
The Portuguese government has declared a day of national mourning, and the Prime Minister described the crash as one of the country’s most significant transport tragedies in recent history. A formal investigation is underway, with findings expected in the coming weeks.
