Tragedy in Lisbon: Portugal sets a day of mourning following a fatal accident on the city's renowned tourist funicular

Portugal is in mourning after a tragic incident occurred in Lisbon's capital on Wednesday evening. At least 15 people lost their lives and over a dozen others were injured when the Glória funicular railway derailed.

The Glória funicular, inaugurated in 1885 and classified as a national monument, is one of Lisbon's most famous landmarks. It links the downtown Baixa district with Bairro Alto, famed for its nightlife.

On Wednesday at around 6:00 pm, one of the two carriages lost control and smashed into a bend in the narrow street. Video footage shared on social media showed the wreckage lying on its side, its metal frame twisted and crumpled.

The exact cause of the Glória funicular derailment remains unclear. Questions are being raised about the safety of ageing infrastructure under pressure from Lisbon's booming tourism industry.

Each of its two cars can carry approximately 40 passengers. At least 18 people were injured, five of them seriously, including a child. The victims include both Portuguese citizens and foreign nationals, their identities and nationalities have not yet been disclosed.

The Portuguese trade union SITRA confirmed that one of its members, believed to be working on the line, was among the dead. Carris, the company operating the Glória line, has assured that all required safety checks had been carried out.

Rescue teams worked rapidly to extract passengers from the wreckage, completing the operation in just over two hours. Prosecutors have launched a formal investigation, and forensic experts from the Judiciary Police are examining the site.

The accident had an immediate impact on the second car, stationed at the bottom of the incline, which jolted violently when its twin derailed. The name of the suspect or person responsible for the safety of the Glória funicular in connection with the accident on Thursday evening in Lisbon is not mentioned in the available sources. The investigation is ongoing, and no individual has been publicly identified as responsible yet.

Lisbon has experienced a dramatic surge in tourism over the past decade, with visitor numbers setting new records each year. The Glória funicular transports around three million people annually.

Condolences poured in from across Europe and beyond, including from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Spain's prime minister Pedro Sánchez, Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani, and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

This tragedy is a stark reminder of the risks facing historic infrastructure strained by modern use. As investigations continue, the city and the nation mourn the loss and pray for the recovery of those injured.