Portugal mourns after deadly Lisbon funicular crash kills 15

Portugal has declared a national day of mourning following a tragic accident on Wednesday when Lisbon’s iconic Gloria funicular railway derailed, killing at least 15 people and injuring 18 others.

The crash occurred around 6 p.m., during the evening rush hour, as the historic yellow and white funicular — known locally as Elevador da Glória — careened uncontrollably down a steep hill and smashed into a building in a narrow street in central Lisbon.

Emergency services confirmed that some of the victims were foreign nationals, though their identities have not been released. Among the injured were five people in serious condition, including a child. Rescue teams extracted all victims from the wreckage in just over two hours.

The accident has prompted a formal investigation by public prosecutors. Authorities are examining the cause of the derailment, which disrupted one of Lisbon’s most popular public transport lines.

The Gloria line, operational since 1885 and classified as a national monument, connects Restauradores Square to the vibrant Bairro Alto district. It is used by both tourists and residents, carrying about three million passengers annually.

Mayor Carlos Moedas described the incident as “tragic” and said the city is in mourning. The Portuguese government announced that Thursday would be observed as a day of national mourning.

Carris, the municipal public transport operator, confirmed that routine maintenance and safety inspections were up to date. Following the accident, city officials suspended other streetcar services pending safety checks.

Witnesses described the funicular hitting the building with “brutal force” before breaking apart. Some passengers fled through windows as the car jolted violently.

International leaders expressed condolences. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez offered sympathies to victims’ families, while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed solidarity.

The UK’s Foreign Office is liaising with local authorities to assist any British nationals affected. Britain remains the largest source of tourists to Portugal, alongside Germany, Spain, and the United States.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed deep regret over the tragedy and called for a swift determination of its cause.