At least three people have died and 20 others were injured after Lisbon’s historic Gloria funicular derailed and crashed, emergency services have confirmed.
The head of Portugal’s Civil Protection Authority stated that nine of the injured are in serious condition and that several people were initially trapped in the wreckage. The incident occurred around 6:05 PM on Wednesday near the Avenida da Liberdade.
Videos circulating on social media show the iconic yellow funicular car overturned and severely damaged, with smoke filling the air as people fled the area. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has issued a statement expressing his “sympathy and solidarity with the families affected by this tragedy.”
The total number of passengers on board and the nationalities of the victims have not yet been confirmed. The cause of the crash is under investigation, though the Portuguese newspaper Observador reported that a loose cable may have caused the car to lose control and collide with a building. According to the civil protection website, 62 emergency personnel and 22 vehicles responded to the scene.
Opened in 1885, the Gloria Funicular is one of Lisbon’s most famous landmarks and a major tourist attraction. It navigates the city’s steep, cobbled hills and is used by both residents and tourists. The affected tram travels a 275-meter route from Restauradores square up to the Bairro Alto district, a journey that takes just three minutes.
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