LISBON: At least 15 people were killed and 18 others injured on Wednesday evening when Lisbon’s famed Glória funicular derailed during rush hour, authorities said.
The tram-like vehicle, officially known as the Elevador da Glória, came off its tracks near Praça dos Restauradores around 6 p.m., leaving the carriage mangled along its steep route. Emergency crews worked through the wreckage to pull survivors to safety as shocked onlookers filmed the aftermath.
Officials confirmed that foreign nationals were among the dead but withheld identities pending family notification. The cause of the derailment remains under investigation.
“This is a terrible tragedy in one of Lisbon’s most historic landmarks,” a civil protection spokesperson said.
A Lisbon icon
Opened in 1885 and electrified in 1915, the Glória funicular links Praça dos Restauradores with the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint in Bairro Alto. It is one of the city’s best-known tourist attractions, drawing thousands each week for its short but iconic climb up Lisbon’s steep hillside.
