Lisbon Mourns 16 Dead in Funicular Crash, Safety Probes Underway

A devastating streetcar derailment in central Lisbon on Wednesday evening has left 16 people dead and 21 injured, triggering a national day of mourning and urgent calls for investigations into the safety of the city’s historic transport infrastructure. The tragic incident occurred when one of the Elevador da Glória funicular trams crashed into a building on Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon’s main artery.

Eyewitnesses, including local business owner António Azevedo, described a scene of immediate chaos, with the sound of the crash followed by smoke and desperate attempts by citizens to assist before emergency services arrived. “There was a mountain of bodies that were not asking for help,” Azevedo recounted, highlighting the horrific immediate toll.

By Thursday morning, the accident site was transformed into a somber memorial, adorned with flowers and candles as Portugal’s government declared a national day of mourning. The tragedy’s international scope quickly became apparent, with victims being treated in hospitals from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Morocco, South Korea, Spain, and Switzerland, alongside Portuguese citizens. Prosecutors confirmed the deaths included five Portuguese, two Koreans, and one Swiss national.

The incident has immediately sparked a debate over the maintenance and capacity of Lisbon’s older transport systems. While Carris, the municipal public transport company, asserts “all maintenance protocols” were followed, including daily inspections, some tourists and residents expressed prior concerns about the funicular’s appearance. Argentina Pereira, 80, who worked near the site in the 1970s, noted a significant increase in permitted passenger numbers over the decades, suggesting current capacity might be excessive without enhanced inspections.

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has described the crash as “one of the biggest tragedies in our recent history,” underscoring the profound impact on the nation. As authorities continue their investigation, public pressure mounts for comprehensive safety reviews to prevent future occurrences in a city increasingly reliant on its iconic, yet aging, tourist attractions.

阅读中文版 (Read Chinese Version)

Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.