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| Lisbon crash one of our biggest tragedies, Portuguese PM says | Lisbon crash one of our biggest tragedies, Portuguese PM says |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Watch: Emergency crews surround derailed Portugal funicular | Watch: Emergency crews surround derailed Portugal funicular |
| Portugal's Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has called a furcular train crash that killed 16 people as "one of the biggest human tragedies of our recent history". | Portugal's Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has called a furcular train crash that killed 16 people as "one of the biggest human tragedies of our recent history". |
| Lisbon's 140-year-old Glória funicular, which is popular with tourists, derailed and crashed into a building at around 18:15 local time (17:15 GMT) on Wednesday. | Lisbon's 140-year-old Glória funicular, which is popular with tourists, derailed and crashed into a building at around 18:15 local time (17:15 GMT) on Wednesday. |
| More than 20 others were injured, five of whom were in a serious condition, the prime minister added. | More than 20 others were injured, five of whom were in a serious condition, the prime minister added. |
| The head of the Portuguese capital's public transport operator, Carris, said all funiculars in the capital were now being inspected and that it had launched an independent investigation into the incident. | The head of the Portuguese capital's public transport operator, Carris, said all funiculars in the capital were now being inspected and that it had launched an independent investigation into the incident. |
| A day of mourning is being observed across Portugal on Thursday. | A day of mourning is being observed across Portugal on Thursday. |
| Footage shared on social media showed the crumpled yellow funicular overturned on the cobblestone street and people running from the area as smoke filled the air. | Footage shared on social media showed the crumpled yellow funicular overturned on the cobblestone street and people running from the area as smoke filled the air. |
| Several passengers trapped in the wreckage had to be freed by emergency responders, local authorities said. | Several passengers trapped in the wreckage had to be freed by emergency responders, local authorities said. |
| Officials in Lisbon had initially put the death toll at 17, however that number was later revised down to 16 after they discovered a person who died in hospital overnight had been counted twice. | Officials in Lisbon had initially put the death toll at 17, however that number was later revised down to 16 after they discovered a person who died in hospital overnight had been counted twice. |
| Among the victims was André Jorge Gonçalves Marques, who worked as a break guard on the funicular. | Among the victims was André Jorge Gonçalves Marques, who worked as a break guard on the funicular. |
| Carris described him as a "dedicated, kind and happy professional, always willing to contribute to the greater good". | Carris described him as a "dedicated, kind and happy professional, always willing to contribute to the greater good". |
| Another victim has been named as former volleyball referee Pedro Manuel Alves Trindade. The Portuguese volleyball federation said it was "deeply saddened by the tragedy". | Another victim has been named as former volleyball referee Pedro Manuel Alves Trindade. The Portuguese volleyball federation said it was "deeply saddened by the tragedy". |
| Officials have not indicated what may have caused the crash, but eyewitness reports suggested that the braking system on the cable-hauled funicular failed, sending it hurtling down the steep street. | Officials have not indicated what may have caused the crash, but eyewitness reports suggested that the braking system on the cable-hauled funicular failed, sending it hurtling down the steep street. |
| 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". | 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". |
| It is not known how many passengers were on board when the crash happened. | It is not known how many passengers were on board when the crash happened. |
| 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. |
| One witness told Observador that the vehicle was "out of control, without brakes". | One witness told Observador that 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." |
| Follow updates on this story | Follow updates on this story |
| An investigation has now been launched by Lisbon prosecutors, police and the transport accident investigation department. | An investigation has now been launched by Lisbon prosecutors, police and the transport accident investigation department. |
| Pedro Gonçalo de Brito Aleixo Bogas, the head of Carris, told a news conference on Thursday that all of its funiculars and its vertical lifts in the capital had been shut down for technical inspections, which would happen "in the coming days". | |
| The funiculars had been operating correctly since 2007, Dr De Brito Bogas said. | The funiculars had been operating correctly since 2007, Dr De Brito Bogas said. |
| He said the company had increased its spending on maintenance, but added that the cost of maintaining the funiculars had more than doubled over the past 10 years. | He said the company had increased its spending on maintenance, but added that the cost of maintaining the funiculars had more than doubled over the past 10 years. |
| What we know about deadly funicular derailment | What we know about deadly funicular derailment |
| 'Out of control': Witnesses describe the crash | 'Out of control': Witnesses describe the crash |
| European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent her condolences to the families of the victims, while Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also sent their sympathy. | European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent her condolences to the families of the victims, while Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also sent their sympathy. |
| Sánchez said he was "appalled by the terrible accident". | Sánchez said he was "appalled by the terrible accident". |
| Flags at the European Parliament in Brussels have been flying at half-mast. | Flags at the European Parliament in Brussels have been flying at half-mast. |
| The yellow Glória funicular is one of Lisbon's most iconic sights | The yellow Glória funicular is one of Lisbon's most iconic sights |
| 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 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 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 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 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 historic 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Additional reporting by Emily Atkinson and Mark Lowen | Additional reporting by Emily Atkinson and Mark Lowen |
| You can also get in touch by following this link | You can also get in touch by following this link |