Tragic accident: At least 15 dead in funicular derailment in Lisbon

In addition, 18 people were injured, a spokesperson for the rescue teams in the Portuguese capital said. Foreign tourists are believed to be among the victims. However, there was initially no specific information on their nationalities. The Portuguese government declared a national day of mourning for Thursday.

The cause of the accident has not yet been officially announced. The accident involving the funicular, one of the city's most famous landmarks, occurred at 6:15 p.m. (local time, 7:05 p.m. CEST) near Avenida da Liberdade.

According to media reports, the famous funicular, known as the "Elevador" or "Ascensor da Glória," derailed and then overturned. TV footage from the scene of the accident showed the yellow, wrecked carriage, from whose wreckage rescuers were pulling people. The second carriage at the lower end of the track appeared to be undamaged. However, videos broadcast by CNN Portugal showed it jolting violently at the time of the accident, with several passengers jumping out of the windows and screaming. According to emergency services chief Tiago Augusto, no other people were still trapped in the crashed funicular as of Wednesday evening. He stated that all victims had since been rescued from the wreckage.

An eyewitness told "SIC Notícias" that the funicular derailed with a loud roar, raced down the sloping street, and crashed into a building in Restauradores Square in central Lisbon. The funicular raced down the steep street "at full speed." "It hit a building with brutal force and collapsed like a cardboard box; it had no brakes," the woman said. "It was deafening; I and other passersby ran away." Paramedics and police quickly arrived at the scene, said the young woman, who was still visibly shaken.

The news channel "SIC Notícias," citing the railway operator, Lisbon's transport company Carris, reported that brake failure was suspected as the cause of the accident. Several officers from the criminal investigation department were on site and have already begun an investigation. Such an accident involving one of Lisbon's funicular railways had never occurred before.

Carris stated that "all maintenance protocols" had been followed. In particular, the four-year general maintenance, which was carried out in 2022, and the biennial interim maintenance, which was last carried out last year. The Attorney General's Office told the Lusa news agency that it would launch an investigation, as required by law in such situations.

Portugal's head of state, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, expressed "deep regret" over the accident and demanded that the incident be "swiftly investigated by the relevant authorities." Carlos Moedas, the mayor of the Portuguese capital, told reporters: "It is a tragic day for our city. Lisbon is in mourning!" Moedas is a politician from the conservative-liberal Partido Social Democrata. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her condolences to the victims' families.

The "Gloria" funicular is one of Lisbon's most famous tourist attractions and began operating in 1885. This popular means of transport connects downtown Lisbon with the Bairro Alto district, known for its nightlife. It is one of three funiculars and is used by both tourists and residents. Portugal, and Lisbon in particular, has experienced a tourism boom over the past decade, leading to high visitor numbers in the city center during the summer months.