Child retrieved from debris of Lisbon streetcar crash by authorities
In the heart of Lisbon, Portugal, a tragic incident occurred on Wednesday evening when a streetcar derailed, resulting in a devastating accident. The vehicle in question, the Elevador da Glória, a distinctive yellow-and-white streetcar classified as a national monument, was packed with locals and international tourists at the time.
The aftermath of the accident saw a grim toll, with 16 lives lost, including five Portuguese nationals, three British citizens, two Canadians, two South Koreans, one American, one French, one Swiss, one Ukrainian, one German, and one person initially reported dead but found alive in a Lisbon hospital. Among the dead was a French-Canadian dual citizen.
The crash also left more than 20 people injured, with injuries ranging from minor to critical. One of the critically injured is a boy's mother, who remains in a hospital.
The company that operates Lisbon's streetcars and buses, Carris, has opened its own investigation into the crash. Portuguese police, alongside the local authorities, are also actively investigating the Standseilbahn-Unfall in Lissabon. The Portuguese police have identified 11 of the 16 people killed as foreigners.
The government's Office for Air and Rail Accident Investigations has concluded its analysis of the wreckage and will issue a preliminary technical report on Friday. Chief police investigator Nelson Oliveira expects a preliminary police report within 45 days.
Lisbon's Mayor Carlos Moedas has stated that the city needs answers but cautioned against speculation about possible causes. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro echoed this sentiment, stating that this tragedy goes beyond Portugal's borders.
Hundreds of people, including President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, attended a mass at Lisbon's Church of Saint Dominic in the wake of the tragedy.
The streetcar, which has been in service since 1914, underwent a full maintenance program last year and received a 30-minute visual inspection every day. However, it's unclear whether all the cables were tested during the inspection.
The streetcar's brakeman, André Marques, was also killed in the accident. Four staff members from Santa Casa da Misericórdia, a Portuguese charitable organization, were also among the fatalities.
Witnesses to the accident shared their experiences. Felicity Ferriter, a 70-year-old British tourist, heard a horrendous crash while unpacking at a nearby hotel. Francesca di Bello, a 23-year-old Italian tourist, had been on the Elevador da Glória hours before the derailment.
One of the survivors, a three-year-old German boy, was rescued from the wreckage. A woman named Di Bello expressed shock at the wreckage and stated she would not ride a funicular again.
The city of Lisbon has ordered immediate inspections of all Standseilbahnen in response to the incident. As the investigation continues, the city and the nation mourn the loss and pray for the recovery of those affected by this tragic event.
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