Canadians believed to perish in Lisbon streetcar accident, according to Portuguese authorities
A tragic incident occurred in Lisbon, Portugal, as a streetcar came off its rails during the evening rush hour and collided into a building off the Avenida da Liberdade. The crash has claimed the lives of 16 people, including two Canadians, and left 21 others injured, with 10 of them suffering serious injuries.
Officials are still waiting on DNA and family confirmation to identify the remaining victims. Among the deceased, at least half were foreigners, with officials identifying five Portuguese nationals, two South Koreans, one German, one Swiss citizen, and two Canadians. A German woman and her child were among the injured, with the child suffering minor injuries.
The streetcar, a popular tourist attraction, was reported to be up-to-date on its daily inspections, monthly and weekly maintenance, and last underwent general maintenance in 2022 and interim repairs in 2024. Carris, the transit agency that operated the funicular, had doubled its spending on the Elevador da Gloria between 2015 and 2025.
The city's antiquated funiculars were modernized in the 1990s and were set to be further updated after funds were set aside for the project this year. The streetcar's sudden derailment has led to all funiculars in Lisbon being shut down until inspections are completed.
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro called the streetcar crash "one of the biggest tragedies of our recent past." A sombre mass was held at Lisbon's Church of Saint Dominic, attended by several high-ranking officials. Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand has stated that consular officials are aware of two missing Canadians and are in contact with local authorities and families to provide support.
Investigators are sifting through the wreckage of the streetcar crash, but have not yet commented on possible causes such as a faulty brake or a snapped cable. Pedro de Brito Bogas, chairman of Carris, has offered condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed and injured in the crash.
Portugal observed a national day of mourning on Thursday, and the city of Lisbon is left to pick up the pieces following this devastating incident. The names of the two suspected Canadian victims of the cable car accident are not explicitly mentioned in the available sources, with only information that there were two Canadian victims, one with dual Canadian and Moroccan nationality. Global Affairs Canada is aware of two "missing" Canadians in Lisbon, but did not specify if the injured person is one of the two missing.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of regular maintenance and safety checks for public transportation systems. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy.
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