Funicular Tragedy in Lisbon: A City in Mourning

A fatal accident involving the famed Gloria funicular has shocked Lisbon, Portugal. The funicular, a popular tourist and local transport, derailed and crashed into a building, killing 16 people and leaving five seriously injured. The death toll was initially reported higher before being officially revised down. Among the victims were at least 11 foreigners.

The Cause of the Crash and Its Aftermath

The accident occurred on Wednesday evening on a steep stretch of tracks near Liberty Avenue. According to a witness, the funicular appeared to be speeding “at full speed” before it hit a building “with brutal force and collapsed like a cardboard box.” The witness claimed the brakes had failed. Lisbon public transport officials, however, stated that the funicular had complied with “all maintenance protocols” and that a large number of emergency personnel, firefighters, and police were at the scene throughout the night.

A Symbol of the City

The yellow Gloria funicular is one of Lisbon’s most recognizable symbols, and the tragedy has brought grief and dismay to the country. The European Union and the office of the Portuguese Prime Minister have expressed their condolences. This is the first such tragedy in the city’s history, and the Lisbon prosecutors have opened an investigation into the circumstances of the accident.