Portugal holds day of mourning after Lisbon funicular accident kills 17 | Transport News

Crash of the historic Elevador da Gloria funicular is one of Lisbon’s deadliest transport accidents in years.

Portugal is holding a day of mourning after at least 17 people were killed when Lisbon’s Elevador da Gloria funicular derailed and crashed.

The Portuguese government said the country would observe a day of mourning on Thursday to commemorate the victims, all of whom have been recovered from the wreckage, according to the emergency services.

The tram, one of Lisbon’s major tourist attractions, came off the rails and hit a building late on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities on Thursday raised the death toll to 17 people, with a further 21 injured.

Officials have not released the victims’ identities or nationalities but initially said some of the deceased were foreign nationals. On Thursday, they reported that at least 11 of the injured were foreign.

The Portuguese government quickly announced the day of national mourning. Officials in Lisbon have declared three days of mourning in the capital city.

“It’s a tragic day for our city … Lisbon is in mourning. It is a tragic, tragic incident,” Mayor Carlos Moedas told reporters at the scene.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed condolences over the “tragedy”.

Investigation

Footage from the crash site showed the yellow carriage lying mangled against a building as firefighters pulled passengers from the wreckage. Emergency crews worked into the night to clear debris from the steep hillside railway.

The president has directed the concerned authorities to swiftly determine the cause of the accident.

“The public prosecutor’s office will open an investigation,” the attorney general’s office said in a statement, according to national news agency Lusa.

It added that the public prosecutor’s office “is carrying out the necessary procedures, within the scope of its powers, particularly for the purpose of preserving evidence, with guidance and in coordination with police agencies”.

The police, national transport safety authority and Carris, the company that runs the Gloria funicular, are also investigating the cause of the accident, according to reports.

Lisbon’s fire department said a loose cable caused the funicular to lose control and slam into a building. The accident took place just after 6pm (17:00 GMT) during rush hour, according to local media.

Images circulating online showed one car flipped beside the rails and surrounded by debris while passengers scrambled to safety. Video footage aired by CNN Portugal captured another car jolting violently on the track with panicked passengers leaping from windows.

The Elevador da Gloria, which first opened in 1885, links the Baixa district with the Bairro Alto neighbourhood, offering sweeping views of the city. Operated by Lisbon’s public transport company Carris, it is one of three historic funicular lines and serves both residents and tourists.

The funicular operates on a counterweight system with two cars connected by a cable and powered by electric motors. While the lower car appeared largely intact, the upper carriage sustained significant damage.

Lisbon has seen a surge in tourism in recent years, and summer draws large numbers of visitors to its narrow streets and historic districts. The Elevador da Gloria is among the city’s best-known attractions, and Wednesday’s crash is one of Portugal’s deadliest transport accidents in recent memory.