Lisbon’s iconic funicular derails, killing 15

International

LISBON’S bright yellow Gloria funicular, a postcard symbol of the Portuguese capital, derailed near Liberty Avenue on Wednesday, killing 15 passengers and injuring 18 others, authorities said.

The crash occurred at 6:15 p.m. local time, when the historic cable car overturned on the steep slope where it normally carries both tourists and residents.

Images from the scene showed the carriage on its side, surrounded by firefighters and medical teams working to recover victims.

In an AFP report, Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas called it “a tragedy that our city has never seen.” Emergency services later confirmed that all of the victims had been removed from the wreckage and that some were foreign nationals, though no further details were immediately released.

In response, the government declared Thursday a day of national mourning.

Eyewitnesses said the funicular appeared to lose control as it sped downhill before slamming into a building with significant force.

Prime Minister Luis Montenegro’s office issued a statement expressing national grief.“A tragic accident involving the Gloria funicular caused the irreparable loss of human life, which has brought grief to their families and dismay to the country,” he said in the same report.

The Gloria Funicular has been part of Lisbon’s cityscape since 1885 and was converted to electric power in 1915. It undergoes general maintenance every four years, according to Portugal’s national monuments authority.

Along with two other funiculars, it remains one of Lisbon’s most visited attractions and a fixture on city souvenirs.

Authorities have not released information on the cause of the derailment or on the identities of the victims.(MyTVCebu)