- A devastating crash involving Lisbon’s historic Gloria funicular has claimed 17 lives and left 20 others injured, some critically.
- The incident occurred near Avenida da Liberdade when one of the cable-linked carriages lost control and slammed into a building. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic, black smoke, and frantic rescue efforts.
- Authorities are investigating the cause, with early reports pointing to a possible cable failure.
A tragic accident in the heart of Lisbon has left 17 people dead and 20 injured after one of the city’s iconic Gloria funicular carriages derailed and crashed into a building.
The incident unfolded just after 6 p.m. on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the Portuguese capital.
The Gloria funicular, a 140-year-old tram system that connects downtown Lisbon to the Bairro Alto district, operates on a cable mechanism that allows one carriage to ascend while the other descends. On this occasion, the system failed catastrophically.
Witnesses reported seeing the lower carriage stall and roll backward before the upper carriage descended at high speed, veering off its track and slamming into a building near a Subway restaurant. The impact crumpled the tram’s frame and filled the narrow cobblestone street with smoke and debris.
Tourists and locals rushed to help, while others fled in fear. Emergency services arrived swiftly, deploying dozens of responders to rescue trapped passengers and treat the wounded. Among the injured were foreign nationals and a child.
The crash site, located near the bustling Avenida da Liberdade, was cordoned off as investigators began piecing together what went wrong. Preliminary findings suggest a cable may have come loose, but officials say it’s too early to confirm the exact cause.
The Portuguese government has declared a national day of mourning, and Lisbon’s mayor has announced three days of mourning in the city. The tragedy has cast a shadow over one of Lisbon’s most beloved landmarks, raising questions about safety protocols and maintenance standards.
As the city grieves, tributes continue to pour in for the victims, and survivors recount the terrifying moments that turned a routine tram ride into one of Portugal’s deadliest transport disasters.
