Lisbon Funicular โDisaster Leavesโฃ At Least 15 Dead, 18 Injured
Lisbon, Portugal – September 4, 2025, 09:53 CEST – A โขrunaway funicular car in lisbon’s historic Glรณria district resulted โin โat โฃleast โ15 fatalities โคand 18 injuries this morning, authorities confirmed. the incident, โwhich occurred atโค approximately 09:15 localโ time, involved โa โhistoric funicular-a cable railway-derailing and colliding with another car ascendingโค the steep incline.
The tragedy has promptedโค an immediate investigation into the cause โof the malfunction and raised questions about the safety protocols of Lisbon’s aging public โฃtransportation infrastructure. The Glรณria funicular, a popular tourist attraction and vitalโฃ commuter link, has beenโ suspended โindefinitely.โ This disaster impacts not only residents who relyโ on the funicular for daily travel but also the city’s tourismโ sector, as the Glรณria funicular is a landmark destination. Emergency servicesโ are currentlyโ focused โคon extricating remaining passengers and providing medical assistance to the injured, with a full โขassessment of the damage underway.
According to a statement released by Carris, the Lisbon transport company, โคthe funicular underwent โaโ thorough “general maintenance” checkโฃ in 2022, a โฃprocedure conducted every four years.โ Additionally,โค a more frequent “interleaved repair” was completed โขearlier in โฃ2024, occurring every two years. Carris emphasized the implementation of rigorous maintenanceโ schedules,โ includingโฃ “monthly, per month, perโฃ month, perโข month, per monthโ daily inspection”โ routines.
The Glรณria funicular โfirst opened in โ1885, offering a unique and historic meansโฃ of traversing lisbon’s steep โhills. It remains unclear at this time whether theโค age of the funicular played a role โขin the accident.