Lisbon, Sept. 3, 2025 – A devastating accident unfolded in the heart of Lisbon on Wednesday evening when the Ascensor da Glória, one of the city’s most iconic funiculars, derailed, leaving at least 15 people dead and 18 others injured, five of them critically. The tragedy has shaken the Portuguese capital and cast a somber shadow over one of its most beloved landmarks.
The Incident
According to emergency officials, the accident occurred shortly after 6:00 p.m. local time when a safety cable on the uphill car suddenly snapped. The funicular, packed with commuters and tourists, careened out of control before slamming into a nearby residential building along the steep Calçada da Glória.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as the crash sent passengers tumbling inside the wooden tram-like car. “It was like the whole world stopped. We heard screaming, the sound of glass breaking, and then silence,” said João Martins, a local shop owner who rushed to help survivors.
Firefighters, police, and paramedics quickly swarmed the area. Survivors were transported to Santa Maria Hospital and Hospital de São José, where medical teams remain on high alert. Authorities confirmed that five patients remain in critical condition.
Official Response
Lisbon’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, visibly shaken, addressed reporters at the scene. He called it a “dark day for the city” and announced three days of official mourning. Flags across Lisbon will fly at half-staff in memory of the victims.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed his condolences, saying, “Lisbon has lost not only lives but part of its spirit today. The Ascensor da Glória is a symbol of our culture and history. We grieve with the families.”
Condolences have also poured in from international leaders, including messages from Spain, France, and the European Union, offering solidarity with Portugal in the wake of the tragedy.
Investigation Underway
Authorities confirmed that the GPIAAF (Gabinete de Prevenção e Investigação de Acidentes com Aeronaves e de Acidentes Ferroviários), Portugal’s accident investigation office, has already launched a comprehensive inquiry into the cause of the derailment.
Preliminary reports suggest that a critical failure of the main safety cable may have triggered the accident, though officials stress that further analysis is needed. Engineers will also inspect whether structural wear, lack of maintenance, or other technical issues contributed to the disaster.
Transport Minister João Galamba pledged full transparency, stating: “No stone will be left unturned. We must understand how such a failure could happen in one of our most historic and heavily maintained systems.”
A Historic Landmark Shaken
The Ascensor da Glória, inaugurated in 1885, has long been one of Lisbon’s most recognizable attractions. The funicular connects Praça dos Restauradores in downtown Lisbon with the Bairro Alto district, climbing a steep 265-meter incline. It carries thousands of passengers daily, from locals commuting home to tourists eager for a ride on the charming wooden cars that have symbolized Lisbon for over a century.
Listed as a National Monument, the funicular has undergone several modernizations, but its vintage character and historical significance have always been preserved. The derailment marks the first fatal accident in its 140-year history.
Mourning and Public Reaction
As news of the tragedy spread, crowds gathered near the crash site, leaving flowers and candles in memory of the victims. Social media was flooded with messages of grief, with many describing the accident as an unimaginable blow to Lisbon’s identity.
“I’ve taken the Ascensor da Glória countless times,” said Maria Santos, a Lisbon resident. “It’s part of who we are. To think of such loss happening there—it’s heartbreaking.”
Local businesses in the Bairro Alto district have also pledged to hold moments of silence throughout the three-day mourning period.
Looking Ahead
While Lisbon mourns, questions loom over the safety of the city’s other historic transport systems, including the Ascensor da Bica and Ascensor do Lavra, which, like the Glória, are tourist favorites. City officials have ordered immediate safety inspections of all funiculars to prevent further tragedies.
For now, the Ascensor da Glória will remain closed indefinitely, its familiar wooden carriages still standing on the steep track as a haunting reminder of the disaster.
The victims’ names have not yet been released as authorities work to notify families. A public vigil is expected to be held later this week in Lisbon’s Praça do Comércio.
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