Lisbon’s historic funicular crashes, kills 15: What we know, what we don't

A catastrophic accident in Lisbon late Wednesday has left Portugal reeling.

The derailment of the city’s iconic Glória funicular, one of its most visited tourist attractions and a vital transport link, resulted in the deaths of 15 people and injuries to 18 others, according to emergency services.

The crash, described by officials as among the worst tragedies in Lisbon’s modern history, has prompted a massive emergency response and a formal investigation.

The government has declared a day of national mourning as investigators work to determine what caused the disaster.

What happened on Rua da Glória in Lisbon?

The incident took place around 6 pm local time on Rua da Glória, a steep and narrow street in central Lisbon.

The Glória funicular, a bright yellow-and-white tram-like vehicle known for transporting passengers between Restauradores Square in the city centre and the elevated Bairro Alto district, suddenly went out of control as it descended the slope.

Witnesses described scenes of panic and devastation as the car barrelled downhill during the busy evening rush hour.

According to eyewitnesses, the funicular appeared to have no braking power, speeding uncontrollably before smashing into a bend in the road and colliding violently with a nearby building.

“It hit the building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box…” Teresa d’Avó told Portuguese television channel SIC. Teresa added that the incident caused passersby to flee into Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon’s main thoroughfare, as chaos erupted.

Photographs and video footage from the aftermath show the crumpled remains of the funicular lying on its side, its roof and sides mangled from the collision.

Emergency responders worked frantically to extract victims trapped inside the wreckage, with rescue operations continuing into the night.

The National Institute for Medical Emergencies (INEM) confirmed that five of the injured were in critical condition, including a child.

Officials clarified later that no children were among the deceased, but one child had been seriously hurt. The remaining injured included a mix of local residents and tourists.

Authorities have not released the names or full nationalities of the victims. However, Portuguese health officials confirmed that foreign nationals were among both the dead and injured.

Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that two Spanish citizens were among those injured, while Britain’s Foreign Office announced that it was in contact with local authorities and prepared to assist any British nationals affected.

How did the rescue operations go?

The narrow streets surrounding Rua da Glória made the rescue efforts particularly challenging. Firefighters, paramedics, and police converged on the scene, bringing in heavy equipment to stabilise the wreckage and remove those trapped inside.

Video footage showed emergency personnel working under floodlights to treat victims on stretchers, while other teams combed through debris for survivors. Witnesses reported hearing anguished cries as rescuers worked to free the injured.

Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas addressed reporters at the scene, calling it a devastating day for the capital. “It’s a tragedy of the like we’ve never seen,” Moedas said, visibly shaken. “Lisbon is in mourning, it is a tragic, tragic incident.”

Emergency teams transported nine of the injured to local hospitals. Five remained in critical condition as of Thursday morning, according to INEM.

The Portuguese prosecutor general’s office confirmed that a formal investigation had been launched, which is standard protocol following accidents involving public transport.

Police investigators began inspecting the site soon after rescue operations began, carefully documenting the wreckage and surrounding infrastructure.

What has the investigation revealed so far?

While officials have not yet released definitive information about the cause of the crash, local Portuguese media reported that a failure involving the funicular’s haulage cable may have played a role.

According to Observador, a Portuguese newspaper, the cable connecting the two cars allegedly detached from the system, causing one car to plummet downwards while the other jolted violently at the opposite end.

Witness accounts supported this theory. Passengers aboard the undamaged car at the bottom of the line said they felt a sudden violent movement at the moment of the crash.

Video shared on CNN Portugal showed panicked passengers jumping out of windows as the car lurched unexpectedly, with bystanders screaming nearby.

Carris, the municipal public transport company that operates Lisbon’s funiculars, issued a statement insisting that all standard maintenance procedures had been carried out.

The company highlighted that its daily, weekly, and monthly inspection programmes were up-to-date, and major maintenance work had last been completed in 2022. Carris stressed that no prior safety warnings had been ignored.

However, reports published by the Spanish newspaper El País contradicted this narrative, stating that workers had repeatedly raised concerns about the “poor maintenance” of the Glória line in recent years.

These concerns have now become a focal point for investigators and union representatives.

In the wake of the accident, Lisbon City Council suspended operations of the city’s other funicular lines, including the Bica and Lavra funiculars, pending urgent inspections of the entire system.

What has the reaction been like?

The accident has plunged Lisbon, and Portugal as a whole, into deep mourning. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offered his condolences to the families of the victims and highlighted the need for patience as investigators work to uncover the truth.

The Portuguese government declared Thursday a day of national mourning. “A tragic accident … caused the irreparable loss of human life, which left in mourning their families and dismayed the whole country,” the government said in a statement.

Moedas announced that city flags will fly at half-mast, while national institutions observed a minute of silence Thursday morning.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted in Portuguese on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “It is with sadness that I learned of the derailment of the famous Elevador da Gloria.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was “appalled by the terrible accident.”

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reported that he had spoken with his Portuguese counterpart to express “solidarity with the victims.”

The US Embassy in Lisbon shared its “deepest condolences to all affected” in a social media statement.

SITRA, a Portuguese trade union, confirmed that one of its members was among the deceased.

What do we know about the historic Glória funicular?

The Glória funicular, known locally as the Elevador da Glória, has been a beloved part of Lisbon’s landscape for nearly 140 years.

Inaugurated in 1885 and later electrified in the early 20th century, it connects the downtown Pombaline district at Restauradores Square with Bairro Alto, a picturesque neighbourhood renowned for its nightlife, cafes, and historic streets.

The line spans 275 metres (902 feet) and features a steep incline of 17.7 per cent, making it essential for navigating Lisbon’s famously hilly terrain. Each trip takes roughly three minutes, transporting passengers up or down the slope while offering a scenic view of the city.

Unlike many traditional funiculars, the Glória operates using electric motors mounted inside the cars, which are connected by a haulage cable looped over a pulley at the top of the track.

The system allows one car to ascend while the other descends, with each serving as a counterweight to the other.

Each funicular car can carry around 40 passengers, seated and standing. Together, the two cars move nearly three million people annually, according to city records.

These include both local commuters and the many tourists who flock to Lisbon each year.

The Elevador da Glória is officially designated as a national monument, highlighting its cultural and historical importance to Portugal.

Alongside the Bica and Lavra funiculars, it remains one of three surviving lines operated by Carris in the capital.

Will this incident affect tourism in Lisbon?

The funicular’s location makes it one of the most photographed and visited sites in Lisbon.

Restauradores Square, at its lower station, is a bustling hub in the heart of the city, while Bairro Alto at the upper end is famous for its cobbled streets, vibrant bars, and panoramic viewpoints such as the São Pedro de Alcântara Garden.

The accident has cast a shadow over Lisbon’s booming tourism industry. In the past decade, Portugal has experienced a surge in international visitors, with crowds often forming long queues to ride the historic funiculars.

In 2024 alone, Lisbon welcomed 8.5 million visitors, making the funicular a crucial part of the city’s tourism infrastructure.

Britain remains the largest source of tourists to Portugal, followed by Germany, Spain, and the United States.

Authorities have not confirmed whether any British nationals were among the victims, but the UK Foreign Office stated it was ready to provide consular assistance as needed.

Have there been any previous accidents on the funicular?

While Wednesday’s disaster was by far the most serious accident in the funicular’s history, the line has experienced minor safety incidents before.

On May 7, 2018, a car on the Glória line derailed due to inadequate wheel maintenance, though no injuries were reported at that time.

This earlier event has now resurfaced as investigators examine whether systemic issues were overlooked.

The Lavra funicular, Lisbon’s oldest, opened in 1884, while the Bica line began operations in 1892. All three funiculars are critical components of the city’s public transport network and have long been symbols of Lisbon’s heritage.

What do we not know yet?

Despite extensive reporting and witness accounts, several important details remain unknown:

• The exact sequence of events leading to the derailment.

• Whether the cable detachment theory is accurate and, if so, what caused it.

• The full identities and nationalities of the deceased.

• Whether prior maintenance concerns raised by workers were addressed or ignored.

Until the investigation concludes, officials have urged the public and media to refrain from speculation.

The crash has reverberated far beyond Portugal’s borders due to the funicular’s global popularity. Images of the destroyed tram have been shared widely online.

With millions of tourists riding these funiculars each year, the findings of the investigation will be closely scrutinised.

Lisbon’s municipal government has promised full transparency, and Carris has pledged to cooperate fully with investigators.

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With inputs from agencies