Lisbon’s Gloria funicular derailment killed 15 and injured 18, prompting national mourning and an urgent investigation.
At least 15 people were killed and 18 injured on Wednesday when Lisbon’s iconic Gloria funicular railway derailed in a devastating crash, Portuguese officials confirmed.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene after the tram lost control around 6 p.m. local time, smashing into cars and a building. “Lisbon is in mourning. This was a tragic accident … It’s a tragedy of the like we’ve never seen,” Mayor Carlos Moedas said.
Video footage showed the yellow-and-white tram crushed on its side as rescuers pulled victims from the wreckage. Local media reported that some victims were pedestrians and motorists struck when the runaway streetcar broke loose. Witnesses said it ploughed downhill before landing on a man walking on the sidewalk.
Five people remain hospitalized in serious condition, while a child was injured but not critically. Authorities are investigating whether a snapped overhead cable caused the disaster. The Gloria Funicular, opened in 1885, is one of Lisbon’s most popular tourist attractions.