Portugal has declared three days of national mourning following the derailment of Lisbon’s historic Gloria funicular, which left at least 15 people dead and five others seriously injured, including a child.

Authorities confirmed that some of the victims were foreign nationals, though no identities have been released. Rescue teams worked for hours to free passengers trapped in the wreckage, while the exact number of people on board remains unclear.

The accident occurred as the funicular was descending from the São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint toward Restauradores Square when it derailed and crashed into a nearby building. Eyewitnesses described the crash as violent. “It hit the building with force and collapsed like a house of cards. It had no brakes,” said one local resident.

The transport company Carris, which operates the funicular, stated that all required maintenance and safety checks had been completed, including daily, weekly, and monthly inspections, as well as larger two-year and four-year reviews. However, Portuguese media reported that a cable may have loosened along the route, causing the operator to lose control.

Images circulating online show the funicular’s yellow-and-white carriage completely destroyed by the impact. Lisbon’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, called the tragedy “a day unlike any other in the history of the city,” offering condolences to the victims’ families and stressing that immediate focus must remain on rescue and assistance efforts.

Messages of sympathy also came from abroad, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who said he was “shocked by the terrible accident,” and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who expressed her condolences to Portugal.

The Portuguese government confirmed that a full investigation into the causes will begin once rescue operations are completed.

A Lisbon landmark

The Gloria funicular, inaugurated in 1885 and electrified in 1915, is one of Lisbon’s best-known attractions and a designated national monument. It connects Restauradores Square in the city center with the Bairro Alto district at the top of the hill in just three minutes, carrying more than three million passengers each year.

Designed by Portuguese engineer Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard, it is regarded as the city’s most popular funicular, with departures every 12 minutes throughout the day. Its route offers one of the most famous panoramic views of Lisbon.