Lisbon Funicular Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 17 as Investigation Intensifies

Lisbon is reeling today, Friday, September 5, 2025, from a devastating funicular crash that has claimed 17 lives. An intensive investigation is now underway to determine the cause of the unprecedented disaster that occurred late Wednesday afternoon when the city’s iconic Elevador da Glória funicular derailed and slammed into a building.

The death toll, initially reported as 16, tragically climbed to 17 on Thursday after two hospitalized victims succumbed to their injuries. Officials later clarified the figure following an initial duplication of information. Among the deceased are foreign nationals, reflecting the funicular’s immense popularity with tourists.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has offered his condolences to the grieving families, while Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas declared three days of city-wide mourning, describing the event as “a tragedy of the like we’ve never seen.” The national government also declared Thursday a national day of mourning for the victims.

As the wreckage of the famed streetcar remains a heap of crumpled metal surrounded by police cordons, emergency services are conducting additional safety checks on Lisbon’s three other funiculars. While local reports have speculated on potential cable or brake failures, Carris, the company operating the Elevador da Glória, maintains that regular daily inspections were consistently carried out. The ongoing probe aims to uncover the precise cause of the catastrophic derailment that has profoundly impacted the quiet European capital.

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