At least 15 killed when funicular derails in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon

Crash of the historical Elevador da Gloria funicular is 1 of Lisbon’s deadliest transport accidents successful years.

At slightest 15 radical person been killed and 18 injured erstwhile Lisbon’s Elevador da Gloria funicular derailed and crashed, exigency services successful Portugal say.

Officials person not released the victims’ identities oregon nationalities but said immoderate of those killed were overseas nationals. “It’s a tragic time for our city. … Lisbon is successful mourning. It is simply a tragic, tragic incident,” Mayor Carlos Moedas told reporters astatine the country connected Wednesday evening.

Footage from the clang tract showed the yellowish tram-like carriage lying mangled against a gathering arsenic firefighters pulled passengers from the wreckage. Emergency crews worked into the nighttime to wide debris from the steep hillside railway, a fashionable attraction successful Portugal’s capital.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed condolences, calling the incidental “a tragedy” and urging authorities to swiftly find the cause.

Lisbon’s Firefighters Regiment said a escaped cablegram caused the funicular to suffer power and slam into a building. The mishap occurred conscionable aft 6pm (17:00 GMT) during unreserved hour, according to section media.

The Elevador da Gloria, which archetypal opened successful 1885, links the Baixa territory with the Bairro Alto neighbourhood, offering sweeping views of the city. Operated by Lisbon’s nationalist transport institution Carris, it is 1 of 3 historical funicular lines and serves some residents and tourists.

A escaped cablegram is blamed for the derailment and clang of the funicular, which is some a applicable transport assets for locals and an attraction for tourists [Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP]

Images circulating online showed 1 car flipped beside the rails and surrounded by debris portion passengers scrambled to safety. Video footage aired by CNN Portugal captured different car jolting violently connected the way with panicked passengers leaping from windows.

The funicular operates connected a counterweight strategy with 2 cars connected by a cablegram and powered by electrical motors. While the little car appeared mostly intact, the precocious carriage sustained important damage.

Lisbon has seen a surge successful tourism successful caller years, and summertime draws ample numbers of visitors to its constrictive streets and historical districts. The Elevador da Gloria is among the city’s champion known attractions, and Wednesday’s clang is 1 of Portugal’s deadliest transport accidents successful caller memory.