Tragedy strikes Lisbon: historic funicular derails in popular tourist area, at least 17 dead

This story was updated on Friday, September 5 at 5:31 p.m. EST

At least 17 people were killed and about 20 others injured on Wednesday (Sept. 3) after Lisbon’s iconic Gloria funicular — a tourist favourite and one of the city’s landmarks — derailed and crashed, according to emergency officials, and a new report from the BBC.

Portugal’s National Institute for Medical Emergencies says five of the injured remain in serious condition, and that a child was among those hurt.

The agency also noted that several foreign nationals were among the victims, though the exact number has not yet been confirmed.

Global Affairs Canada initially told CBC News that no Canadians were impacted, but it was later confirmed that a Quebecer, André Bergeron and his wife, Blandine Daux, who was a Canadian permanent resident and a French citizen, were among those killed.

Authorities have described the crash as an accident — the most serious the city has seen in recent years — one that has cast a shadow over Lisbon’s appeal to the millions of international visitors it welcomes annually.

Officials have not yet released details on what caused the derailment, but some local reports claim that a cable came loose on the the railway’s routes.

The Elevador da Glória, which normally climbs and descends a steep hill in Lisbon’s downtown while a twin car runs in the opposite direction, was left toppled on its side along the narrow street it serves, reports say.

The funicular’s roof and sides were mangled, with the car seemingly slamming into a building at a curve in the road. Large sections of its metal frame were visibly crushed.

Witnesses told local news that the funicular sped downhill, seemingly without control, before toppling — with one bystander saying it struck a man on the sidewalk.

Carris, the operator, noted the vehicle had undergone routine maintenance and expressed its deepest sympathies to the victims and their families in a statement posted online.

The company has pledged a thorough investigation into the causes of the crash.

According to local reports, Lisbon’s city council has halted streetcar services and ordered urgent safety inspections across the network.

The Portuguese government declared Thursday (Sept. 4) a national day of mourning.

First inaugurated in 1885, the tram links Lisbon’s downtown near Restauradores Square with the Bairro Alto, a district renowned for its nightlife.

It’s one of three funiculars in the city and serves both residents and visitors.

Lisbon’s city hall reports that the Gloria line carries roughly three million passengers each year.

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