A tragic accident rocked the heart of Lisbon on Wednesday afternoon when the Gloria funicular, which connects the lower part of the city to the Barrio Alto, a popular destination for tourists and locals, derailed and crashed. Fifteen people were immediately killed by the wreckage, with dozens injured. One of them died at dawn on September 4th, bringing the tragic death toll to 16.
The data, however, are still provisional and could worsen further.
An Italian woman among the wounded
Sources at the Italian Embassy in Lisbon report that an Italian woman has received minor injuries . Fortunately, she was treated immediately and her injuries are minor, but the Embassy remains in contact with the Portuguese authorities and the Farnesina crisis unit. The woman, a researcher from L'Aquila, suffered a compound fracture to her arm .
The reconstruction
According to an initial reconstruction by firefighters, who rushed to the scene with ambulances and civil defense vehicles, a cable broke, causing one of the two elevators to derail and fall when it was at its highest point. Another theory among technicians regarding the cause of the accident is that the car's braking system failed. The car crashed into a building adjacent to the tracks near the Plaza de los Restauradores below, and crumpled on impact. Many passersby in the area fled toward nearby Avenida de la Libertat to seek safety, according to numerous testimonies reported by Portuguese media.
Local authorities
Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas, who described it as a "very serious, unprecedented incident," and Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz arrived on the scene to closely monitor the rescue operations. Moedas also decided to suspend operations on the Bica and Lavra elevators, as well as the Graca funicular, to assess their operational conditions and safety.
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa immediately reacted with a message on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic, expressing his "deepest condolences," particularly "for the dead and seriously injured." Prime Minister Luis Montenegro also expressed his condolences, and a day of national mourning was declared.
The story
The Portuguese capital's iconic means of transport has a capacity of 45 people and is used by approximately one million people a year, both tourists and residents. The Gloria funicular was declared a national monument in 2022 and is one of the city's oldest means of transport still used to ascend Lisbon's hills. On May 7, 2018, a maintenance system malfunctioned, causing a near-miss in the system, but there were no casualties.
Condolences in Europe
"I learned with deep sorrow of the tragic derailment of the Elevador da Glória in Lisbon. I wish to express, on behalf of the Italian Government and myself, my sincere condolences and sympathy to Portugal, the families of the victims, and the injured involved in the incident," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
"I was saddened to learn of the derailment of the famous 'Elevador da Glória'. My condolences to the families of the victims." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote this on X in Portuguese. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola also expressed her condolences: "Our hearts go out to the victims of the tragedy of the Elevador da Glória, a landmark for Lisbon residents and visitors from around the world. Europe stands in solidarity with the victims, their loved ones, and the entire Lisbon community. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured," she also wrote on X in Portuguese.
(Unioneonline)