LISBON, Portugal (BN24) — At least 15 people were killed and 18 others injured after Lisbon’s historic Gloria funicular derailed and crashed near the city’s central Avenida da Liberdade on Wednesday evening, according to emergency services.
The accident, which occurred around 6:05 p.m. local time, left the iconic yellow cable railway overturned and nearly destroyed. Dramatic footage circulating on social media showed the wreckage strewn across the tracks as smoke filled the air and bystanders fled the scene. Emergency responders confirmed that all passengers who had initially been trapped were later freed.
Portugal’s National Institute for Medical Emergency (INEM) reported that five of the injured are in serious condition, while the remaining 13—among them a child—suffered minor injuries. Officials also confirmed that foreign nationals are among the deceased, but their identities and nationalities have yet to be verified.
Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas called the crash a “tragic moment” for the city, writing on social media, “Lisbon is in mourning.” President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed “deep sympathy and solidarity with the families affected by this tragedy,” while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen extended her condolences to the victims’ families.
The cause of the derailment remains under investigation. However, local newspaper Observador reported that a loose cable may have caused the funicular to lose control and collide with a nearby building. Transport operator Carris, which runs the Gloria funicular, stated that it has launched a full inquiry into the incident, emphasizing that all standard maintenance procedures had been followed.
The Gloria funicular, a symbol of Lisbon’s historic transit system, has been in operation since 1885, ferrying passengers between the Restauradores Square and the Bairro Alto district. The steep incline and vintage appearance of the tram have made it a popular attraction for tourists and a fixture in daily city life.
As authorities continue to investigate, the derailment has prompted widespread shock and mourning across Portugal, raising fresh concerns over the safety of historic transport infrastructure in urban settings.
