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Images of the crash show the yellow-and-white street car lying on its side near the Avenida da Liberdade as emergency services respond
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At least 15 people have died after Lisbon‘s Gloria funicular railway derailed and crashed into a building, also leaving around 18 people injured, authorities said.
Footage on Wednesday evening showed the tram-like funicular, which carries people up and down a hillside in the Portuguese capital, practically destroyed and emergency workers pulling people out of the wreckage.
Authorities would not identify the victims or disclose their nationalities, but said some foreign nationals were among the dead.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa reacted to the tragic incident in a statement, expressing hope that authorities would soon establish what caused the crash, which happened on Wednesday at around 6pm.
Initial reports suggest the cable for the funicular came loose.
The system’s two cars, each capable of carrying around 40 people, run parallel to each other as they shuttle up and down the hill on a curved, traffic-free road. They are harnessed by steel cables.
The railway, which opened in 1885, is operated by the municipal public transport company Carris. On Wednesday night, it said “all maintenance protocols had been carried out”, including monthly and weekly maintenance programs and daily inspections.
Out of the 15 people who have died, authorities have said some are foreign nationals, without giving a figure.
The Gloria funicular railway is one of three funicular lines that are used by tourists, as well as local residents.
A spokesperson for Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was in touch with the local authorities and stood by “to provide consular assistance if there are any affected British nationals”.
Local media are already carrying reports on how the tragic crash might have happened.
As we’ve reported, one of the cars, also known as elevators, appeared to have jolted and hit a pavement, before the other car came down the line and crashed, killing at least 15 people.
Fernando Nunes da Silva, a former Lisbon City Council member and engineering specialist, told SIC Notícias: “It’s most likely that the traction cable broke and when that cable broke the brakes didn’t work.”
He added: “The descending elevator gained momentum and continued at great speed.”
Following the crash earlier this evening, we’re now hearing from some of the witnesses, who have been speaking to local media.
One person told Correio de Manha that she heard a “huge bang”, before looking around and seeing “the tram completely destroyed due to the impact with the building, some dust rising, and many people screaming”.
Another person who works nearby said he saw one of the cars hit the pavement, before spotting the other car “completely out of control”.
“It wasn’t going at all at normal speed, and we only had time to turn around and start running, because we didn’t know if it would hit the elevator [car] below.”
Authorities have not identified the 15 victims or disclosed their nationalities, but have said some foreign nationals are among the dead.
Following this evening’s funicular crash, in which at least 15 people have died, the government has declared a day of national mourning on Thursday.
A statement approved by the Council of Ministers said: “A tragic accident involving the Ascensor da Glória, in the municipality of Lisbon, on September 3, 2025, caused the irreparable loss of human lives, which left their families in mourning and the country in shock.
“The government has decided to declare a day of national mourning as an expression of the Portuguese people’s condolences and solidarity. Therefore: national mourning is declared on September 4, 2025,”
At least 15 people have died in the Gloria funicular railway crash, emergency services have said.
Eighteen others are injured, including five in a serious condition, the National Institute for Medical Emergencies said in a statement.
An unknown number of the injured are foreigners, it said.
Lisbon’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, has issued an update on the response of emergency services to the incident.
He said it was a “tragic day for the city”.
Mr Moedas said: “All City Hall teams, including the INEM (National Emergency Services), firefighters, we’re all on the ground trying to help victims.
“This is a tragic time for the city, a very difficult time. We have to be here and on the ground working on this.”
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