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Three dead after Lisbon historic funicular railway derails | |
(32 minutes later) | |
At least three people have been killed and 20 others injured after Lisbon's famous Gloria funicular derailed and crashed, emergency services said. | |
The head of Portugal's Civil Protection Authority said that several people remained trapped at the scene and nine people were in a serious condition. | |
Footage shared widely on social media showed the yellow tram-like structure overturned and almost entirely destroyed. People could be seen fleeing the area on foot as what appears to be smoke filled the air. | |
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has issued a statement expressing his "sympathy and solidarity with the families affected by this tragedy". | |
It is unclear how many people were on board at the time of the cable railway crash, which occurred near the Avenida da Liberdade around 18:05 on Wednesday evening. | |
It is not known whether those killed are Portuguese nationals or foreigners. | |
Portuguese newspaper Observador reported that a cable came loose along the railway's route, causing it to lose control and collide with a nearby building. | Portuguese newspaper Observador reported that a cable came loose along the railway's route, causing it to lose control and collide with a nearby building. |
Sixty-two emergency service personnel and 22 vehicles are at the scene, according to the civil protection website. | |
The Gloria Funicular is one of the most famous sights and tourist attractions in Lisbon. It was opened in 1885 and electrified three decades later. | The Gloria Funicular is one of the most famous sights and tourist attractions in Lisbon. It was opened in 1885 and electrified three decades later. |
The iconic yellow trams are a crucial part of a city as hilly as Lisbon. They snake their way up many of the cobbled streets. | |
This particular tram that crashed travels some 275m (900ft) from Restauradores, a square in the middle of Lisbon, up to the picturesque, cobbled streets of an area called Bairro Alto - or high neighbourhood - taking just three minutes to make the journey. | |
It, and the other funiculars, are used by Lisbon residents but they are also extremely popular with tourists – and at the end of the summer, the Portuguese capital is very busy indeed. | |
The Lisbon authorities say it is too early to determine the cause of this incident – and how many people were caught up in it. | |
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