Victims of Lisbon's funicular accident include Germans - Tragedy Strikes Lisbon: Casualties from the Cableway Mishap in Germany
In a shocking turn of events, a cable car accident in Lisbon claimed the lives of at least 19 people and injured 21 others on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred on one of the city's steep streets, as the cable car, known as the "Gloria," derailed and collided with a house.
The "Gloria" cable car, a historic fixture in Lisbon, first began operation in 1885 and was connected to the power grid in 1915. According to records, it underwent a general maintenance in 2022 and an intermediate maintenance in 2024. Carris, the company that operates public transport in Lisbon, stated that all maintenance protocols had been followed.
Emergency services were on site throughout the evening and night, working tirelessly to attend to the injured and recover the deceased. Among the foreigners injured are two Germans, two Spaniards, one French, one Italian, one Swiss, one each from Canada, Korea, Morocco, and the Cape Verde Islands. The Foreign Office in Portugal expressed their condolences, stating, "Our thoughts are with the victims of this tragic cable car accident."
Margarida Castro from the city's civil protection made a statement about the accident but did not reveal the identities of the dead. Investigators are currently searching for the cause of the accident, with eyewitnesses reporting that the cable car was traveling at full speed before it crashed.
In response to the tragedy, a national day of mourning was declared across Portugal on Thursday. The German Embassy in Lisbon is in contact with local authorities regarding the accident, although the name of the German ambassador involved in these discussions is not currently available.
As the investigation continues, the city of Lisbon and the nation as a whole mourn the loss of lives in this tragic accident. Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of those affected.
