Portugal has declared a national day of mourning after a tragic accident involving Lisbon’s iconic Gloria funicular left at least 15 people dead and 18 others injured, five of them in critical condition.
The 140-year-old funicular, a beloved tourist attraction linking the city’s downtown area to the Bairro Alto district, derailed late Monday and crashed into a building near Avenida da Liberdade at around 18:15 local time.
Authorities confirmed that among the victims were foreign nationals, though details of their identities have not yet been released. A child sustained minor injuries and is receiving medical attention.
Local newspaper Observador reported that a cable came loose along the steep route, causing the funicular to hurtle downhill without brakes before smashing into a structure at the base of the incline. Eyewitnesses described the carriage as “out of control,” with passengers screaming as it gathered speed.
Emergency crews worked late into the night to pull victims from the wreckage, while hospitals across Lisbon remain on high alert to treat the injured.
A joint investigation involving police and the company that operates the funicular has been launched to determine the precise cause of the disaster.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro described the incident as “one of the darkest days in recent memory,” pledging full government support for the victims’ families and a thorough probe to ensure accountability.
