Deadly Crash as Lisbon’s Historic Gloria Funicular Derails at Tourist Hotspot
Lisbon, Portugal — A tragic accident involving Lisbon’s iconic Gloria funicular has left at least 17 people dead and 21 others injured after one of its carriages derailed and crashed into a building on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred just before rush hour along the steep, cobbled incline that connects Restauradores Square to the Bairro Alto district — one of Lisbon’s most popular tourist routes. The Gloria funicular, a historic cable railway in operation since 1885, is widely recognized for its yellow streetcars and panoramic views of the capital. Local authorities report that one of the two interconnected carriages lost control and sped downhill before violently crashing into a nearby building. A detached cable is believed to have caused the derailment, according to early findings by the Lisbon Firefighters Regiment. Footage from the aftermath showed chaotic rescue scenes, with firefighters and emergency personnel pulling injured passengers from twisted metal and shattered glass. Smoke billowed from the wreckage as bystanders attempted to help. One of the most harrowing images was of a three-year-old German boy being pulled from the debris by a police officer. According to CNN Portugal, the child’s father was killed in the crash and his mother remains in critical condition. Eyewitnesses described the moment of impact as “brutal.” “It hit a building with such force, it fell apart like a cardboard box,” said one woman who saw the streetcar speeding downhill. “There were no brakes.” Another bystander reported seeing the carriage veer around a bend and collide with a man on the sidewalk. Emergency teams worked for over two hours to rescue all victims. SITRA, a transport workers’ union, confirmed that one of its members was among the deceased. As the country grapples with the scale of the tragedy, Portugal has declared three days of national mourning. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa extended his condolences to victims’ families, while Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas described the event as “a tragedy of the like we’ve never seen.” A number of public events, including a book festival at BelĂ©m Palace, have been suspended. Leaders across Europe, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, expressed their sorrow and solidarity with Portugal. Authorities say it is too early to determine the exact cause of the accident. However, initial reports suggest the derailment may have resulted from a cable detachment, raising questions about maintenance and safety protocols. Lisbon City Council has suspended operations of other streetcars across the city and ordered immediate inspections of similar systems. The prosecutor general’s office has announced the launch of a formal investigation into the incident, standard procedure in public transportation accidents. This is not the first time the Gloria line has experienced mechanical failure. In May 2018, a derailment attributed to poor wheel maintenance occurred, though no injuries were reported at the time. The Gloria funicular is more than a mode of transport — it’s a designated national monument and a major draw for visitors. Lisbon’s tourism authority reports around three million passengers ride the line annually. Last year alone, the city welcomed approximately 8.5 million tourists. Now, with its historic carriages lying in ruins and lives lost, the future of the beloved landmark hangs in the balance.
