In Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, the Gloria funicular derailed, killing 15 people and injuring 18 more. This is reports CNN Portugal.
Three days of mourning were announced in the city. It is known that five victims are in serious condition, among the injured is a child. The prosecutor’s office and the police have already started an investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy.
The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and the victims and expressed his hope for a quick determination of the causes of the accident. He published the relevant statement on the official website.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also expressed her condolences on the tragedy on the X social network in Portuguese:
“I was saddened to learn about the derailment of the famous “Elevador da Gloria”. My condolences to the families of the victims.
According to reports, a cable broke on the funicular, causing the car to lose control and crash into a nearby building. The company responsible for its operation noted that general maintenance is carried out once every four years, and the last full inspection took place in 2022. In addition, the current technical condition is checked daily.
Funicular “Gloria” is one of the most famous sights of Lisbon and a popular tourist attraction. It was opened back in 1885, and three decades later it was converted to electric traction.
The iconic yellow carriages have become an integral part of the city with its many hills and narrow cobbled streets. The crashed funicular travels approximately 275 meters from the Restauradores Square in central Lisbon to the picturesque streets of Bairro Alto. The journey lasts only three minutes.
The funicular is used not only by city residents, it is especially popular among tourists, and at the end of summer, when Lisbon is full of guests, the line’s load increases many times.
