Tragic Accident: At Least 15 Dead in Funicular Derailment in Lisbon

This was stated by the head of the city's civil protection, Margarida Castro Martins. Initially, there were reports of 15 dead and 18 injured. According to the current status, there are no Austrians among the victims, as stated in response to an APA inquiry from the Foreign Ministry in Vienna. It is believed that there are also foreign tourists among the victims. However, there were initially no specific details about the nationalities. The Portuguese government declared a national day of mourning for Thursday.

Two people succumbed to their injuries during the night, Castro Martins explained regarding the increased number of victims. The historic funicular "Elevador da Glória" derailed in the center of Lisbon on Wednesday evening and crashed into a building. According to initial findings, the cause was damage to the cable that pulled the rail car up the steep street and braked it when descending. An eyewitness told the state Portuguese TV channel RTP that the car raced downhill, crashed into a building, and "fell apart like a cardboard box."

Nationalities Partially Not Yet Confirmed

The identities and nationalities of most victims were initially unknown. The Portuguese authorities had stated that among the fatalities were also some foreign nationals. According to them, 21 people were injured, including at least eleven foreigners: two Germans, two Spaniards, one French woman, one Italian, one Swiss, as well as one person each from Canada, Korea, Morocco, and Cape Verde.

On Thursday, there could be official information about the identities of the deceased, said a spokesperson for the city hall. The Institute of Forensic Medicine aimed to complete the autopsies by the morning. Then, more precise information is expected to be available.

The accident with the funicular, one of the city's most famous landmarks, occurred at 6:15 PM (local time, 7:05 PM CEST) near Avenida da Liberdade.

According to media reports, the famous train known as "Elevador" or "Ascensor da Glória" derailed and subsequently overturned. TV footage from the accident site showed the yellow, destroyed carriage, from whose wreckage rescue workers were retrieving people. The second carriage at the lower end of the track was apparently not damaged. However, videos broadcast by CNN Portugal showed it jolting violently at the time of the accident, with several passengers jumping out of the windows and screaming. According to rescue service chief Tiago Augusto, no more people were trapped in the crashed funicular on Wednesday evening. He stated that all victims had now been recovered from the wreckage.

Funicular Accident in Lisbon: "Train Derailed with Loud Noise"

An eyewitness told "SIC Notícias" that the train derailed with a loud noise, raced down the sloping street, and crashed into a building at Restauradores Square in the center of Lisbon. The funicular "raced down the steep street at full speed." "It crashed with brutal force into a building and collapsed like a cardboard box; it had no brakes," the woman said. "It was deafening, I and other passersby ran away." Paramedics and police were quickly at the accident site, recounted the young woman, who was still visibly shaken.

The news channel "SIC Notícias" reported, citing the railway operator, the Lisbon transport company Carris, that brake failure is suspected as the cause of the accident. The criminal police are on site with several officers and have already started investigations. Such an accident with one of the funiculars had not occurred in Lisbon before.

Carris stated that "all maintenance protocols" had been followed. In particular, the general maintenance carried out every four years, which was done in 2022, and the intermediate maintenance carried out every two years, which last took place last year. The Attorney General's Office told the news agency Lusa that the public prosecutor's office would initiate an investigation - as the law prescribes in such situations.

The "Glória" funicular was put into operation in 1885 and connected to the power grid in 1915.

National Mourning and Condolences from Austria

A national day of mourning was declared by the government across Portugal on Thursday. Flags in Lisbon flew at half-mast. "My thoughts are with the families and relatives of the victims. I wish the injured a speedy recovery," expressed Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) on the short message service X. "Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with the victims, their families, and all those affected. We pray for the injured. We stand by our Portuguese friends in this difficult time of mourning," Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) had already posted on Wednesday evening.

President Calls for a Quick Clarification

Portugal's head of state Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa deeply regretted the accident and demanded that the incident be "quickly clarified by the competent authorities." Carlos Moedas, the mayor of the Portuguese capital, told reporters: "It is a tragic day for our city. Lisbon is in mourning!" Moedas is a politician of the conservative-liberal Social Democratic Party. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed her condolences to the relatives of the victims.

The "Gloria" tram is one of Lisbon's most famous tourist attractions and was put into operation in 1885. The popular means of transport connects downtown Lisbon with the Bairro Alto district, known for its nightlife. It is one of three funiculars and is used by both tourists and residents. The two cars of the tram, each accommodating around 40 people, are attached to opposite ends of a cable. Portugal, and Lisbon in particular, have experienced a tourism boom over the past ten years, leading to high visitor numbers in the city center during the summer months.

(APA/Red)

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