Passengers on Lisbon’s Gloria funicular ‘screamed with fear’, say witnesses to crash

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Passengers on Lisbon’s Gloria funicular railway “began screaming with worry” earlier than a automobile derailed and crashed, horrified witnesses have stated.

No less than 15 individuals have died and round 18 individuals have been injured when the automobile got here off its tracks at about 6pm.

Footage exhibits the tram-like funicular, which carries individuals up and down a hillside within the Portuguese capital, destroyed and emergency staff pulling individuals out of the wreckage.

Though it’s not but identified what brought on the crash, native media have reported that one of many two funicular vehicles, which have been connected by a haulage cable, jolted and hit a pavement with “nice drive”.

Following that, the second automobile is reported to have derailed and hit a constructing.

One witness informed Portuguese information web site Correio da Manha that the primary automobile was descending slowly when it hit the sidewalk.

“It hit the sidewalk with nice drive, and other people inside began screaming in worry,” the unnamed witness stated.

Because the witness tried to assist these within the crashed automobile, he stated he noticed the opposite one “uncontrolled”, coming down the road from above, earlier than it crashed right into a constructing.

One other witness stated they heard a “enormous bang” earlier than seeing the automobile destroyed by the impression and other people screaming, the outlet reported.

In a press release the president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, expressed hope that authorities would quickly set up the reason for the crash.

Authorities wouldn’t determine the victims or disclose their nationalities, however stated some international nationals have been among the many useless.

In a social media submit, Ursula von de Leyen, president of the European Fee, reacted to the breaking information tonight from the Portuguese capital.

She stated: “It’s with unhappiness that I realized of the derailment of the well-known “Elevador da Glória”. My condolences to the households of the victims.”

The road, which opened in 1885, connects Lisbon’s downtown space close to the Restauradores Sq. with the Bairro Alto (Higher Quarter), identified for its vibrant nightlife.

It’s operated by the municipal public transport firm Carris, which stated “all upkeep protocols had been carried out”, together with month-to-month and weekly upkeep packages and each day inspections.