Tragic Crash of Lisbon's Glória Funicular: An In-Depth Look

Sat Sep 13 2025 08:45:44 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

An overview of the recent Glória funicular crash in Lisbon that killed 16 and injured over twenty. Eyewitness accounts, details about the funicular's operation, and public reactions are covered.

A catastrophic incident involving Lisbon's Glória funicular railway led to the deaths of 16 individuals and injuries to 23 others. The accident, yet to be fully explained, has prompted investigations and widespread lamentations from both officials and the public. Eyewitness accounts describe terrifying scenes, prompting discussions about the safety of this popular transport system, which is of significant importance to locals and tourists alike.

A carriage on one of Lisbon's most iconic tourist attractions, the Glória funicular railway, derailed and crashed on Wednesday. The popular tram-like form of transport is designed to travel up and down steep slopes.

Portuguese authorities have confirmed 16 people were killed, revising an earlier figure which put the death toll at 17. It is not yet clear what caused the carriage to derail, and an investigation into the cause of the accident is under way.

The carriage derailed at around 18:15 (17:15 GMT) on Wednesday 3 September, near the city's Avenida da Liberdade boulevard. More than 60 rescue personnel and 22 vehicles were deployed to the scene. Officials say it is too early to determine what caused the crash, but Portuguese newspaper Observador reports that a cable came loose along the railway's route, causing it to lose control and collide with a building.

As smoke engulfed the area, people could be seen running away from the scene. Images and footage show an overturned, crumpled yellow carriage lying on the cobblestone street, surrounded by emergency responders. Some people were trapped in the wreckage and had to be freed by emergency workers.

Emergency services gave a death toll of 17 on Thursday but Prime Minister Luís Montenegro later said 16 were dead. Reports in Portugal have attributed the mistake in the death toll to a duplicate registration of a victim at one hospital. Among those who died were five Portuguese, three Britons, two South Koreans, two Canadians, an American, a French, a Ukrainian and a Swiss.

The Glória funicular can carry about 40 passengers and is extremely popular with tourists, but is also crucial for residents, helping them travel up and down Lisbon's hilly streets. It is not known how many people were onboard at the time of the crash.

Expressing regret for the crash, Carris said it had opened an investigation to determine the causes of this accident. The company said maintenance protocols had been followed, including general maintenance every four years and monthly and weekly inspections.

The country was observing a national day of mourning while Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas declared three days of mourning in the capital. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed their condolences.

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