The famous Gloria funicular in Lisbon derailed on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 18 others. The incident happened around 6:15 p.m. near Liberty Avenue, a popular tourist spot.
Mayor Carlos Moedas called it a “tragedy the city has never experienced.” Authorities declared Thursday a day of national mourning. Rescuers said all victims, including several foreigners, had been pulled from the rubble.
According to witnesses, the funicular, which can carry 40 passengers, went down a steep road without brakes and crashed into a building. “It was like a box collapsing from the force of the impact,” said one woman.
The public transport operator said they had followed all maintenance protocols, and a contractor had been in charge of repairing the funicular for a long time. However, questions remained about how the tragic accident occurred.
The Gloria funicular was built in 1885, electrified in 1915, and is regularly overhauled every four years. It is one of Lisbon's most famous symbols, often seen on souvenirs and visited by many tourists.
