“One of the greatest tragedies of our recent history.” This has defined the Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, the tragic accident that occurred on Wednesday afternoon in Lisbon (Portugal) that has ended the life of at least 16 confirmed people and who has hurt another 23, one of them minor.
Among the injured are people of different nationalities, two of them Spanish who fortunately have already been discharged, although there are also people from Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, France, Morocco, Italy or Canada. Five of the injured are in serious condition, according to the official balance that has highlighted the rapid intervention of the firefighters and the police, which arrived just a few minutes after the event.
The mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, has asked this Thursday to open External and independent investigation To the city transport company (Carris), with the aim of clarifying the causes of the fatal accident. “I asked the president of Carris last night that not only an internal investigation is opened, but also an external and independent that resolves all the responsibilities as soon as possible,” he said in an appearance together with the Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro.
“Everything that can be said at this time are mere speculation, the city needs answers,” has added. Thus, he also wanted to inform that “the Institute for Registration and Notaries will make available a team in Lisbon to accelerate death records and guarantee priority care.”
The victims of the tragic accident
Of the 16 victims, for noweight have been identified, Five Portuguese, two South Koreans and one Swiss. The origin of the rest of the victims, for the moment, is unknown. Yes, it is known that, as said Civil Protection of Lisbon, all the deceased were adults. One of the victims has been the driver of the vehicle, André Jorge Gonçalves Marques, who is among the deceased.
Regarding the injured An Italian, two Spaniards, a Moroccan, a Frenchman, two Germans, a Swiss, a Canadian, a South Korean and averdiano, among others are identified.
A police officer passes by the funicular of glory, derailed, on September 3, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. Fifteen people died and about 20 were injured when a wagon of the Funicular of Gloria derailed in Lisbon.
The causes of tragedy
One of the hypotheses that has gained weight with the course of the hours It is that a security cable was released, causing the loss of vehicle control, as some local media such as the Portuguese newspaper collect Observer, Although it is a theory that has not yet been verified.
What is known is that car number 1 lost control and ended up crashing into a house in the Calçada da Gloria curve, at which time the number 2 car, which was in a lower area, was trapped in the lower edge of the road.
While more details of the accident are found, the City Council has suspended the operation of the other three funicular of the city, with the aim of “verifying” before “Its operating and safety conditions”.
