Portugal will observe a day of national mourning today after a funicular railway carriage derailed in central Lisbon on Wednesday evening, killing at least 15 people and injuring 18 more.
The crash occurred at about 6pm on the steep line of the Elevador da Glória, a landmark funicular dating back to 1885. The yellow and white carriage toppled on its side in a narrow street near Restauradores Square, crumpling against a building as it came off the tracks. Emergency officials said all victims were recovered from the wreckage within just over two hours. Among the injured was a child; five people remain in a serious condition.
Authorities confirmed that some of the victims were foreign nationals, though their identities have not yet been released. The accident also claimed the life of a member of SITRA, a transport workers’ union.
Witnesses described scenes of devastation. “It hit the building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box,” one local resident, Teresa d’Avó, told Portuguese television. Another witness said the streetcar struck a passer-by as it overturned.
Lisbon’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, called it “a tragic day for our city”, adding that the capital was united in grief. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said he hoped investigators would quickly establish the cause of the disaster.
Public prosecutors have launched a formal investigation. Lisbon city council has suspended operations on all funicular lines and ordered urgent safety inspections. The municipal transport company Carris insisted that all maintenance and inspection protocols had been followed.
The Elevador da Glória is one of Lisbon’s most popular attractions, linking the busy downtown area with the Bairro Alto district, known for its nightlife. The funicular carries around three million passengers each year, including both residents and tourists.
Footage broadcast on Portuguese television showed one of the line’s two cars jolting violently when its counterpart derailed, prompting passengers to leap from its windows.
European leaders offered messages of condolence. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen expressed “sadness” over the accident, while Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said he was “appalled by the terrible accident”. Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, conveyed solidarity after meeting his Portuguese counterpart.
Britain’s Foreign Office confirmed it was in contact with local authorities and prepared to assist any affected nationals. Britain is the largest source of foreign visitors to Portugal, followed by Germany, Spain and the United States.
