Portugal has declared a national day of mourning following the derailment of the Glória funicular, one of Lisbon’s most famous landmarks, which crashed into a building near Liberty Avenue on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 18 others.
The accident occurred around 18:15 local time (17:15 GMT) when the 140-year-old funicular lost control on its steep route through the city centre. Authorities confirmed that foreign nationals were among the victims, though identities have not yet been released. Five of the injured remain in serious condition.
Lisbon’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, described the incident as “a tragic day for our city.”
Footage circulating online showed the bright yellow carriage overturned on a cobblestone street, with smoke rising as bystanders fled. Rescue workers pulled several passengers from the wreckage.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but eyewitnesses reported a brake failure. “The funicular hit a building with brutal force and collapsed like a cardboard box; it had no brakes,” one witness told Portuguese broadcaster SIC. Others recalled seeing a cable snap before the vehicle went out of control.
Lisbon prosecutors, police, and the national transport accident investigation department have launched a joint inquiry. Public transport operator Carris said all safety checks had been followed, noting that interim maintenance was carried out last year alongside routine weekly and monthly inspections.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences, while Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also paid tribute to the victims.
The Glória funicular, first opened in 1885 and later electrified, is a major tourist attraction. Painted yellow, it connects Restauradores Square to Bairro Alto over a 275-metre incline in a three-minute ride.
