Lisbon was shaken on Wednesday after the historic Gloria funicular derailed and crashed, killing at least 17 people and injuring 21 others. The yellow cable railway, in operation since 1885, has long been a popular means of traveling the steep street between Restauradores Square and the Bairro Alto district. Witnesses reported one of the cars plummeting down the hill during the evening rush hour before slamming into a building.
Harrowing Rescue Efforts And Eyewitness Accounts Reveal Horror Of Lisbon Funicular Crash
Footage from the crash showed desperate rescue efforts, with passengers being pulled from twisted wreckage while others escaped through windows. A three-year-old German boy was saved by a police officer, though his father died and his mother remains in critical condition. Authorities confirmed that at least 23 people were initially injured, including foreign nationals, before two later died overnight.
Survivors and bystanders described the terrifying sight of the streetcar hurtling downhill “at full speed” with no brakes. One witness said the impact tore the carriage apart “like a cardboard box,” while another recalled fleeing from the tracks as the runaway car sped past. Emergency crews managed to extract all victims within two hours, though one pedestrian was struck as the car toppled.
National Mourning Declared As Investigations Probe Gloria Funicular Tragedy And Safety Failures
Portugal’s government declared three days of mourning, suspending public events, including a literary festival. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas expressed condolences, calling the crash an unprecedented tragedy. European leaders, including Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, also offered sympathies as the nation grappled with grief.
Officials cautioned it is too early to confirm the cause, though firefighters reported a detached cable may have triggered the disaster. Lisbon’s City Council suspended other streetcar operations and ordered urgent inspections. Authorities launched a formal investigation, recalling a 2018 derailment on the same line caused by maintenance flaws. The Gloria funicular, a designated national monument and major tourist draw carrying millions each year, now faces serious questions about safety and oversight.
