Catastrophic incident: At least 16 people perished, 21 were hurt, as a Lisbon streetcar veered off its tracks, municipal authorities reported.
At least 16 people have lost their lives in a tragic streetcar derailment that occurred on the famed funicular, Elevador da Gloria, in Lisbon, Portugal. The incident, which took place around 6:15 p.m. local time on Wednesday, has left the city in mourning.
The derailment appears to have been caused by a broken safety cable on the electric streetcar. Portuguese authorities are currently investigating the cause of the derailment, with the probe involving external consultants at the request of the city's mayor, Carlos Moedas.
Among the deceased are five Portuguese, two South Koreans, one Swiss, one American, one German, one Ukrainian, and two Canadians. One of the South Korean victims remains unidentified, as do the names of several other victims. Rasha Abdo, a Swiss tourist, was traveling on the funicular's other streetcar with her husband and 3-year-old son when the crash occurred. Tragically, Mr. Abdo attempted to assist at the scene of the crash, but it was too late.
Rasha Abdo's husband jumped out of the window to ensure their son's safety when the streetcar suddenly reversed direction, but it crashed farther uphill. A 3-year-old child is among the injured. Six people remain in the intensive care unit, with three in good condition.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the city's public transport operator, Carris, has stated that it complied with all maintenance protocols, including daily inspections, for the Elevador da Gloria. All other funiculars of the city have been suspended and will undergo a rigorous technical inspection by an external entity in the coming days.
The mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, has declared a three-day period of mourning, and Portugal's Prime Minister's Office has declared a national day of mourning for Thursday. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has expressed her condolences for the derailment.
As the investigation into the cause of the derailment continues, the city of Lisbon and the world mourn the loss of 16 lives in this devastating accident. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims during this difficult time.
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