According to Germany’s Foreign Office, German nationals are among the victims. The incident has caused shock and mourning across Portugal.
On Wednesday evening, the traditional Elevador da Glória funicular went off the rails. Initial reports spoke of 15 fatalities, but the number rose to 17 overnight after two more victims succumbed to their injuries in hospital, said Margarida Castro Martins, head of the city’s civil protection agency, on Thursday.
German Nationals Affected – Identities Not Yet Confirmed
The Foreign Office confirmed that German citizens are among those affected, though reliable numbers have not been provided. The identities of the dead have not yet been released. According to civil protection officials, all of the deceased were adults. The injured include Portuguese nationals as well as two Germans, two Spaniards, and one citizen each from France, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Morocco, South Korea, and Cape Verde. The railway workers’ union Sitra reported that the train’s brakeman was also among the dead.
Unconfirmed Reports of a German Fatality
Portuguese media reported that a German citizen was among the fatalities, but this has not yet been officially confirmed. According to the newspapers Correio da Manhã and Observador, the man’s wife was seriously injured, and their child sustained minor injuries and is now in the care of the authorities. No details have yet been provided about the family’s place of origin in Germany.
Investigating the Cause of the Disaster
The wreckage of the funicular remained at the accident site in the city center on Thursday, cordoned off by police. Investigators are expected to examine the scene. The cause of the accident is still unknown. Authorities declined to speculate on possible brake failures or a snapped cable.
Carris, the public transport operator in Lisbon, stated that all required maintenance protocols had been followed. The last general overhaul took place in 2022, with an intermediate inspection in 2023.
The Glória funicular was inaugurated in 1885 and electrified in 1915. Following the accident, Lisbon’s city council suspended the operation of three other funiculars in the city to allow for technical inspections.
Eyewitness Accounts: Train Out of Control
According to broadcaster SIC, a witness described how the funicular raced down the steep street at high speed before crashing into a building at a curve. “It slammed into a building with brutal force and collapsed like a cardboard box,” she said. She reported that the brakes appeared to have failed and that the funicular was completely out of control.
The accident occurred around 6:00 p.m., at the start of the evening rush hour. Rescue teams reported that all victims were recovered from the wreck within about two hours.
National Day of Mourning in Portugal
The Portuguese government declared a national day of mourning on Thursday. “It is a tragic day for our city. Lisbon is in mourning,” said Mayor Carlos Moedas.
With information from dpa, AFP, Reuters, and ARD correspondents in Portugal.
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