Lisbon’s historic Gloria funicular, a popular tourist attraction since 1885, derailed and crashed on Wednesday, killing 15 people and injuring 18 more, officials said.
Police investigators and prosecutors are examining the crash site, and the prosecutor general’s office has announced a formal investigation into the cause, a standard procedure in public transport accidents.
Footage from the scene showed the tram-like funicular, which carries passengers up and down a steep hillside in central Lisbon, severely damaged as emergency workers struggled to rescue survivors from the wreckage.
Authorities have not yet identified the victims or revealed their nationalities but confirmed that some foreign nationals are among the dead.
The mayor of the Portuguese capital, Carlos Moedas described the tragedy had “plunged Lisbon into mourning” and called it “a profoundly sad day for us all.”
In response, Portugal’s government declared Thursday a national day of mourning.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed deep sorrow and voiced hope that investigators would quickly determine what caused the derailment.
Operated by the municipal transport company Carris, the Gloria funicular connects Restauradores Square to the lively Bairro Alto district, serving both locals and tourists and transporting about 3 million passengers annually.
In a statement, Carris said that “all maintenance protocols have been carried out,” including monthly and weekly maintenance as well as daily inspections.
Its two cars, each capable of carrying about 40 people, are attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable, with traction provided by electric motors on the cars.
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