LISBON, Portugal. A historic streetcar in Portugal’s capital derailed and crashed on Wednesday, killing 15 people and injuring 18 others, including a child, according to the National Institute for Medical Emergencies. Five of the injured are in serious condition, and some of the victims are foreign nationals.
Authorities described the incident as an accident, the worst in Lisbon in recent memory. The crash occurred around 6 p.m. during the evening rush hour. Rescue teams worked for just over two hours to pull all victims from the wreckage.
The yellow-and-white streetcar, known as Elevador da Gloria, toppled onto its side on a steep downtown hill and struck a building. Witnesses reported that it appeared to be out of control as it careened downhill. “It hit the building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box,” one eyewitness told local media.
Carris, the company that operates the streetcar, said scheduled maintenance had been carried out. It offered condolences to the victims’ families and pledged full cooperation with the investigation. Lisbon’s City Council suspended all other streetcar services and ordered immediate inspections.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed his condolences, while Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas said the city was in mourning. The Portuguese government declared Thursday a national day of mourning.
European leaders also extended sympathies, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. The U.S. Embassy in Lisbon also issued condolences.
The Elevador da Gloria, technically a funicular, has been in service since 1885 and is classified as a national monument. It is a popular attraction for tourists and also serves local residents, carrying more than 40 passengers per trip on its short route up a steep hill in downtown Lisbon.
An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
