Portugal Mourns After Lisbon Funicular Derailment Kills 17 and Injures 21

Portugal is in national mourning after a tragic Lisbon funicular railway accident claimed 17 lives and left 21 people injured on Wednesday evening.

Deadly Lisbon Funicular Accident

The crash happened on the Elevador da Glória, one of Lisbon’s most famous funiculars that carries passengers up a steep hill in the city center. According to Margarida Castro Martins, head of Lisbon’s civil protection agency, all the victims were adults.

The injured include both Portuguese citizens and several foreign nationals from Germany, Spain, Canada, Cape Verde, France, Italy, Morocco, South Korea, and Switzerland.

Rising Death Toll

Initially, 15 people were reported dead, but two of the most seriously injured victims later died in hospital, raising the toll to 17 fatalities. Three people remain in critical condition. Teams of pathologists worked overnight to conduct autopsies.

Investigation Underway

Authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash, which occurred just after 6pm during rush hour. As a precaution, Lisbon has also suspended all three of its other funiculars for urgent safety checks.

Eyewitness Accounts

Witnesses described scenes of panic and devastation.

• Teresa d’Avó told local media: “It hit the building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box.”

• Another witness, Bruno Pereira, said the tram came off track at high speed, hitting walls and scattering debris. “People screamed, cobblestones flew, and the tram’s metal tracks popped out,” he recalled.

City in Mourning

Lisbon’s Mayor Carlos Moedas visited the site shortly after the tragedy. “This is a day of grief for our city. Something like this has never happened before. Now is the time to support the victims’ families,” he said.

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro declared Thursday as a day of national mourning, calling the crash a tragedy that has brought “grief to families and sorrow to the entire country.”

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also expressed condolences and stressed the importance of quickly determining the cause of the accident.

About the Elevador da Glória

The Elevador da Glória, a popular Lisbon streetcar, connects Praça dos Restauradores with the Bairro Alto district. Known for its historic charm, it is both a commuter link and a major tourist attraction.