A tragic streetcar crash in Lisbon has left 17 people dead and 21 others injured, making it one of the worst disasters in the city’s recent history. The accident, involving the iconic 19th-century Elevador da Gloria, shook the nation and led the Portuguese government to declare Thursday a national day of mourning.
A Tourist Landmark Turns Into Tragedy
The accident happened Wednesday evening around 6 p.m. local time when the streetcar derailed and crashed into a building along its steep downtown route. The vehicle, known for carrying both locals and tourists, was completely crumpled on impact. Witnesses described the crash as violent. “It hit the building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box,” said Teresa d’Avó in an interview with Portuguese broadcaster SIC.
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Publish A Press Release Now Powered by 24-7 Press ReleaseThe streetcar, classified as a national monument, has operated since 1885. It usually carries more than 40 people up and down Lisbon’s hilly streets between Restauradores Square and the Bairro Alto nightlife district. Officials immediately suspended operations of three other funicular streetcars in the city pending safety inspections.
Victims and Nationalities
All 17 victims were adults, according to Margarida Castro Martins, head of Lisbon’s Civil Protection Agency. Among the dead was the brakeman, André Marques, identified by the transport workers’ union SITRA. Authorities said they would notify families before releasing other identities.
The injured included Portuguese citizens and international visitors from Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Morocco, South Korea, and Cape Verde. This reflected the streetcar’s status as one of Lisbon’s most popular tourist attractions during the summer season.
Emergency Response and Investigation
Rescue teams worked for more than two hours to extract all victims from the wreckage. Pathologists at Portugal’s National Forensics Institute, reinforced by experts from other cities, conducted autopsies overnight. The injured were treated at hospitals across Lisbon. The streetcar’s wreckage remained on site Thursday, cordoned off by police, while detectives from Portugal’s judicial police photographed the scene and rails. Officials have not yet confirmed whether a mechanical failure, such as faulty brakes or a snapped cable, caused the derailment.
Carris, the company that operates the funicular, said in a statement that maintenance had been carried out and offered condolences to the victims’ families. The company promised full cooperation in the investigation. (Reuters)
Nation and Europe Mourn
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas expressed their condolences, with Moedas calling it “a tragedy of the like we’ve never seen.” Flags were lowered across public buildings, and the European Union flew its flags at half-staff in Brussels. EU leaders shared messages of solidarity with Portugal on social media. (New York Times)
In a statement, the government said the tragedy “caused the irreparable loss of human life, which left in mourning their families and dismayed the whole country.”
Next Steps
Lisbon authorities will continue their investigation while also inspecting other streetcars in the city. The Elevador da Gloria, a symbol of Lisbon’s heritage and tourism, is now a reminder of a national disaster that claimed 17 lives and left the country in grief.
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