A cable break left the vehicle out of control and caused it to crash violently into a building.

He was struck by lightning when he went out to feed his dog in the middle of a storm

Lisbon's historic funicular Elevador da Glória, one of the Portuguese capital's most iconic funiculars, derailed at 6:05 p.m. on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 18, five of them seriously. The accident occurred on the route between the São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint and Restauradores Square, when a broken cable sent the vehicle out of control and caused it to violently crash into a building on Rua da Glória, in the heart of the capital.

Images recorded by bystanders show the magnitude of the impact and the speed with which the emergency services responded. Sixty-two rescuers and 22 vehicles participated in the rescue effort, including firefighters, medical personnel, and security forces. Among the passengers were numerous tourists, including children. At least two Spanish citizens were among the injured, according to Foreign Affairs sources confirmed to Europa Press.

Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas arrived at the scene and declared that Lisbon was in mourning and that it was a very tragic day for the city. He thanked the rescue teams for their quick response and assured them that, out of respect for the families, he would provide more details later.

The injured were taken to various hospitals in the city. São José Hospital received nine patients, including five in critical condition. Santa Maria Hospital treated three others, including a child with minor injuries. According to Margarida Castro Martins, municipal director of Civil Protection, several people were trapped in the wreckage, and two were in critical condition at the time of rescue.

The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, expressed his condolences for the victims and his solidarity with the families. In an official statement, he called for a swift and thorough investigation. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced that the government will declare a state of national mourning and assured that emergency operations are being closely monitored.

This is not the first incident at the Elevador da Glória. In May 2018, there was a derailment without serious consequences, when the car came off the rails but did not overturn. The repeated problems have reopened the debate about the safety and management of the service.

According to local media, the Fectrans union noted that maintenance responsibility had been handed over to a private company and demanded that it be returned to Carris, the municipal transport company. According to its leader, Manuel Leal, workers had repeatedly warned about the tension in the support cables and deficiencies in the technical inspection. In his view, the tragedy confirms these concerns and forces a reconsideration of outsourcing maintenance services.

A Lisbon symbol

The accident also highlighted the limitations of the Railway Accident Prevention and Investigation Office (GPIAAF). The agency has only had one specialized investigator since August 2023, according to Lusa sources, which will delay the collection of evidence. The process of hiring a second expert is still pending authorization from the Ministry of Finance. Even so, the GPIAAF confirmed that it will open an investigation to clarify what happened.

The Mobility and Transport Authority announced that it will conduct additional monitoring and present its findings as soon as possible. The Executive emphasized that, in this first phase, the absolute priority is caring for the victims and supporting their families, and that the investigations will be carried out in a timely manner.

The Elevador da Glória, inaugurated in 1885 by Portuguese engineer Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard, is a symbol of Lisbon and transports more than three million passengers a year between the city center and Bairro Alto. In 2002, it was declared a national monument and is considered one of the city's main tourist attractions.

The tragedy has shocked Lisbon and the entire country. The mourning declared by the government reflects the seriousness of the incident, while the conclusions of the technical and administrative investigations are awaited.