Lisbon: Portugal is reeling after 15 people were killed and 18 others injured in Lisbon’s iconic Gloria funicular derailment, one of the capital’s most popular tourist attractions.
The accident occurred when the 140-year-old cable-hauled railway lost control and slammed into a building near Avenida da Liberdade. Emergency services confirmed that five of the injured remain in serious condition, with several foreign nationals among the dead.
Lisbon’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, visited victims at the hospital, calling it a ‘tragic moment for the city.‘ The Portuguese government has declared a national day of mourning, while President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed ‘sympathy and solidarity with the families affected by this tragedy.’
A Câmara Municipal de Lisboa decreta três dias de Luto Municipal pelas vítimas do trágico acidente no Ascensor da Glória.
Apresento as minhas sentidas condolências a todas as famílias e amigos das vítimas. Lisboa está de luto.— Carlos Moedas (@Moedas) September 3, 2025
Investigations underway
Authorities have launched multiple investigations into the crash, including probes by the national transport safety authority, the criminal police, and Carris, the company operating the funicular.
Carris stated that the funicular had undergone its required four-yearly, biennial, and regular daily, weekly, and monthly checks. However, eyewitnesses reported that the braking system failed, leaving the carriage ‘out of control, without brakes’ as it sped downhill before crashing into a building.
Several passengers were trapped in the wreckage and had to be freed by first responders. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez both sent condolences, describing the crash as a terrible tragedy.
A Lisbon landmark
The Gloria funicular, opened in 1885 and electrified in 1915, is a symbol of Lisbon’s steep cobbled streets and a major draw for tourists. The short 275-metre ride connects Restauradores Square to Bairro Alto, one of the city’s most picturesque districts.
Often packed with residents and visitors, the funicular has been an integral part of the Portuguese capital’s heritage. The accident comes at the height of the summer season, when Lisbon is especially busy with tourists.
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