Tragedy Strikes Lisbon: Funicular Accident Claims 16 Lives

A devastating accident in Lisbon, Portugal, has left the city mourning after a derailment of the iconic Gloria funicular tram resulted in at least 16 confirmed deaths and 23 injuries, including a minor. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro described the incident as one of the greatest tragedies in recent history. Among the injured are individuals from various nations, including Spain, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, France, Morocco, Italy, and Canada. Fortunately, two Spanish nationals have been discharged from the hospital, though five of the injured remain in serious condition. The quick response of emergency services, including firefighters and police, is credited with saving lives as they arrived just moments after the accident. Lisbon's Mayor, Carlos Moedas, has called for an external and independent investigation into the city's transportation company, Carris, to determine the causes of this tragic event. "I asked last night for the president of Carris to not only conduct an internal investigation but also an external and independent one that establishes all responsibilities as soon as possible," Moedas stated in a press conference alongside Prime Minister Montenegro. As part of the official response, the Institute of Registration and Notary has dispatched a team to expedite death registrations and provide priority support to the victims' families. Among those deceased, at least thirteen were foreigners. The driver of the funicular, André Jorge Gonçalves Marques, is included among the victims. Identification efforts of the injured revealed that they included individuals from various backgrounds: one Italian, two Spaniards, one Moroccan, one French, two Germans, one Swiss, one Canadian, one South Korean, and one Cape Verdean. Initial reports suggest that a possible malfunction of a safety cable may have contributed to the incident, although this theory is still unverified. The first vehicle lost control, crashing into a nearby house while a second vehicle remained trapped at the lower edge of the track. In response to the accident, the city council has suspended the operation of all other funiculars in Lisbon to assess their safety and functionality. Images captured moments after the derailment illustrate the chaos and heartbreak that enveloped the scene as emergency crews worked tirelessly. As authorities continue to investigate, the city of Lisbon stands united in grief, seeking answers and understanding in the wake of this tragic event. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2