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Portugal in shock as Lisbon funicular crash leaves 15 dead Portugal in shock as Lisbon funicular crash leaves 15 dead
(about 3 hours later)
Watch: Emergency crews surround derailed Portugal funicularWatch: Emergency crews surround derailed Portugal funicular
Portugal is in shock after 15 people lost their lives in the derailment of the 140-year-old Gloria funicular, a major tourist attraction in the capital Lisbon. Portugal has declared a national day of mourning after an iconic railway cable car crashed in Lisbon, killing at least 15 people and injuring 18 others.
Another 18 people were taken to hospital, five of them in a serious condition, according to the emergency services. The 140-year-old Glória funicular, which is popular with tourists, derailed and crashed into a building near Liberty Avenue at around 18:15 local time (17:15 GMT) on Wednesday.
Foreign nationals were among those killed in the crash, which took place around 18:05, although nationalities could not be confirmed, authorities said. Foreign nationals are among those killed, authorities said, although the identities of the victims have not been confirmed. Five of the injured are in a serious condition.
Lisbon's mayor, Carlos Moedas, paid a visit to the hospital on Wednesday night, calling it a "tragic moment for the city". Portugal's government, which will host the mayor at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, has declared a day of national mourning. Lisbon's mayor Carlos Moedas called it a "tragic day for our city".
The country's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed his "sympathy and solidarity with the families affected by this tragedy". Footage shared on social media showed the crumpled yellow funicular overturned in the cobble stone street and people running from the area as smoke filled the air.
Police and other emergency workers spent many hours on the scene, as the various investigations into the incident – by the company that runs the funicular, by the national transport safety authority, and by the criminal police – got under way. Several passengers trapped in the wreckage had to be freed by emergency responders, authorities said.
The boss of Lisbon's public transport operator Carris visited the scene of the accident late on Wednesday, with the company issuing a statement to the effect that major four-yearly and interim biennial maintenance had been carried out on the funicular as required, as well as daily, weekly and monthly checks. Officials have not confirmed what caused the crash, but eyewitness reports suggested that the braking system on the cable-hauled funicular failed, sending it hurtling down the steep street and into a building.
But reports from eyewitnesses suggested that the braking system on the cable-hauled funicular failed, sending it hurtling down the steep street and into a building. A witness told Portuguese TV channel SIC that the funicular, which can carry around 40 people, "hit a building with brutal force and collapsed like a cardboard box; it had no brakes".
Several people had to be freed after being trapped in the wreckage, authorities said. It is not known how many passengers were on board when the crash happened.
It is unclear how many people were on board at the time of the cable railway crash, which occurred near the Avenida da Liberdade. 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.
What we know about fatal Lisbon funicular derailment One witness Observador that the vehicle was "out of control, without brakes".
Footage shared widely on social media showed the bright yellow carriage overturned and almost entirely destroyed. People could be seen fleeing the area on foot as what appears to be smoke filled the air.
One witness told Portuguese newspaper Observador the vehicle was "out of control, without brakes".
"We all started running away because we thought [the carriage] was going to hit the one below," said Teresa d'Avó."We all started running away because we thought [the carriage] was going to hit the one below," said Teresa d'Avó.
"But it fell around the bend and crashed into a building.""But it fell around the bend and crashed into a building."
Another told Portuguese TV channel SIC that the funicular hit a building as it sped down the steep street "at full speed". An investigation has now been launched by Lisbon prosecutors, police and the transport accident investigation department.
"It hit a building with brutal force and collapsed like a cardboard box; it had no brakes," the woman said. The city's public transport operator, Carris, said it had complied with "all maintenance protocols". Interim maintenance was carried out last year and regular monthly and weekly checks had been done, it said.
The Lisbon authorities say it is too early to determine the cause of this incident. The company is "very sorry about what happened" and has opened its own investigation.
However, Observador reported that a cable came loose along the railway's route, causing it to lose control and collide with a nearby building. What we know about fatal Lisbon funicular derailment
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent her condolences to the families of the victims. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent her condolences to the families of the victims, while Spain's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also sent their sympathy.
Spain's Prime Minster Pedro Sánchez said he was "appalled by the terrible accident". Sanchez said he was "appalled by the terrible accident".
A funicular is a type of railway system that allows travel up and down steep slopes.A funicular is a type of railway system that allows travel up and down steep slopes.
The two cars on the Gloria funicular are powered by electric motors. They are attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable meaning that as one travels downhill, its weight lifts the other, allowing them to ascend and descend simultaneously. The two cars on the Glória funicular are powered by electric motors. They are attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable meaning that as one travels downhill, its weight lifts the other, allowing them to ascend and descend simultaneously.
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 bright yellow Glória funicular is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Lisbon. It was opened in 1885 and electrified three decades later.
The iconic yellow vehicles are a crucial part of a city as hilly as Lisbon. They snake their way up many of the cobbled streets. The historic vehicles are a crucial part of a city as hilly as Lisbon. They snake their way up many of the cobbled streets.
This particular one 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. The one that crashed travels some 275m (900ft) from Restauradores Square in downtown Lisbon, up to 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.
You can also get in touch by following this linkYou can also get in touch by following this link