At least 15 people were killed and several others seriously injured Wednesday evening when a historic funicular in Lisbon, Portugal, collided with a building near Avenida da Liberdade Boulevard. The accident occurred around 6:05 p.m. local time, plunging the city’s iconic Gloria funicular into tragedy.
The incident has prompted an outpouring of grief and concern, with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de sousa issuing a statement expressing “compassion and solidarity with families touched by this tragedy.” Authorities are working to determine the full extent of the casualties and the cause of the accident,which involved the funicular impacting a structure after reportedly losing control.
According to reports from the Portuguese newspaper Observador, a cable becoming entangled on the railway track may have contributed to the funicular’s loss of control.Emergency services confirmed that multiple individuals were trapped at the crash site, and at least nine people were in serious condition as of late Wednesday.
The Funicular Gloria, opened in 1885 and later electrified, is a prominent tourist attraction and a vital part of Lisbon’s public transportation network, navigating the city’s steep hills. The yellow funiculars are a recognizable symbol of Lisbon, and this accident casts a shadow over the city’s historic landscape. The identities of the victims – whether Portuguese citizens or foreign nationals – remain unconfirmed as investigations continue. Social media footage circulating online depicts scenes of panic, with people fleeing the area and smoke visible in the aftermath of the crash.
