Lisbon's vintage funicular train veers off track, claiming 17 lives, with regrettable casualties among German tourists - Lisbon's historic cable car experiences catastrophic derailment, resulting in 17 fatalities, with 1 apparently being a German national.
In a shocking turn of events, Lisbon's historic funicular, the Elevador da Glória, derailed and crashed into a building on Wednesday afternoon, around 6 p.m. local time. The accident, which occurred on Rua da Glória and overcame a height difference of approximately 45 meters, has left the city in mourning.
The tragic incident claimed the lives of several individuals, including the driver (brakeman) who died among the victims. At present, there is no information suggesting a German driver was involved. A German victim, a father, was a passenger and lost his life in the crash, but the driver was not identified as German in the sources.
Following the accident, Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed their heartfelt condolences to the victims' families. The Portuguese criminal police have launched an investigation into the incident to determine the cause.
Prior to this incident, such an accident involving one of Lisbon's three historic funiculars had not occurred. The Elevador da Glória, which was opened in 1885 and connects the central Praça dos Restauradores square with the higher neighborhood of Bairro Alto, is primarily a tourist attraction but is also used by many locals.
In response to the accident, Lisbon's administration suspended the operation of all three funiculars and ordered immediate inspections. It is worth noting that Lisbon's public transport company, Carris, stated that monthly, weekly, and daily maintenance programs are carried out meticulously.
Experts suspect that the cause of the accident may be due to a cable snapping and the brakes failing. However, the exact cause is still unknown and is under investigation.
This article has been updated with new information as the investigation continues. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragic incident.
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