A tragic incident in Lisbon on Wednesday evening resulted in the deaths of at least fifteen people and left eighteen others injured following a derailment of the historic “Elevador da Glória” funicular National Civil Police confirmed the casualty figures
According to eyewitness accounts and authorities, the funicular reportedly veered off its tracks around 6:00 PM local time, colliding with a pedestrian walkway and a building Emergency responders worked to extract individuals from the severely damaged carriages
The operating company has stated that “all maintenance protocols” were followed for the funicular The Portuguese government has declared a national day of mourning on Thursday in response to the accident
The “Elevador da Glória” has been a feature of Lisbon since 1885, connecting the city center with the higher district of Bairro Alto Alongside the Elevadores da Bica and da Lavra, it is considered an iconic symbol of the city and a popular attraction for tourists Investigations into the cause of the derailment are underway