Lisbon Funicular Tragedy: Survivor’s Account Illuminates City’s Grief After Deadly Crash

On Wednesday evening, a horrific derailment of Lisbon’s historic Glória funicular claimed the lives of sixteen people, plunging the city into mourning. Among the harrowing stories emerging from the tragedy is that of Sonia Silva, who narrowly avoided the fatal commute, only to arrive moments later to find her friend and colleague among the victims.

Silva, who worked at the Santa Casa da Misericórdia charity, was asked to complete an extra task, causing her to miss her usual ride home with her friend, Sandra Coelho. “When I got there, it was a tragedy,” she recounted, overwhelmed with grief and a profound sense of gratitude mixed with anger. The crash, which saw the 140-year-old funicular derail and collide with a building, has been described by the Portuguese prime minister as “one of the biggest human tragedies of our recent history.”

The victims include five Portuguese nationals, four of whom were colleagues at the Santa Casa da Misericórdia charity, and several foreign nationals, including three British citizens whose identities are yet to be released. A crowded memorial service was held on Friday for the victims at a church near the charity’s headquarters, attended by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Colleagues and friends wept as they supported each other, struggling to comprehend the sudden loss of loved ones and the devastating impact on their community. Many expressed disbelief, stating they had always felt confident in the iconic transport system they used daily.

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