At 6:15 pm local time on the 3rd, a derailment and crash occurred at a famous funicular in the city center of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, resulting in 15 deaths and 18 injuries, including 5 serious injuries.
The Portuguese government has announced a national day of mourning on September 4.
The accident was triggered by the breaking of the funicular's safety cable. Multiple eyewitnesses reported that, at the time of the incident, one carriage rapidly slid down the slope, colliding violently with another carriage and nearby buildings. The impact severely damaged the carriages and caused heavy casualties.
According to media reports, maintenance of the funicular had been outsourced two years ago, and employees of the operating company had repeatedly warned of "deficient maintenance."
The funicular involved in the incident is known as the "Glória Lift." Built in 1885, it has a total track length of approximately 265 meters and is one of Lisbon's most iconic historic modes of transport. The funicular operates under an electric traction system for uphill movement, with a total elevation difference of about 48 meters, and two carriages are connected by a safety cable during operation.
As an important mode of transport in Lisbon, the "City of Seven Hills," the funicular has greatly facilitated residents going up and down the hills since its opening. Even today, as the city’s transport network continues to improve, the funicular still operates and has become a landmark attraction in Lisbon, drawing large numbers of tourists seeking the experience.