At least three people are dead and 20 more injured after Lisbon’s famous Gloria Funicular derailed on Wednesday evening.
The tragedy occurred after one of the cables came loose along the railway’s route, causing it to lose control and career down a steep hill before colliding with a building.
Footage from the site showed the tram-like funicular, which carries people up and down a hillside in the Portuguese capital, practically destroyed and emergency workers pulling people out of the wreckage.
Witness Teresa d’Avo told Portuguese TV channel SIC: ‘It crashed into a building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box. It crashed with tremendous force. It didn’t have any kind of brakes.’
Portugal’s PSP police force has confirmed three people have been killed and around 20 people have been injured.
Civil Protection director Margarida Castro Martins said earlier two of the casualties had been critically injured. It was not immediately clear if they had subsequently died and were among the three fatalities.
Some of the injuries victims have suffered reportedly include open fractures. The nationalities of the victims have not yet been released.
Police, paramedics and firefighters have rushed to the scene. It was not immediately clear what had caused the crash.
At least 20 people have been hurt after Lisbon’s famous Gloria Funicular derailed
The drama occurred at 6.05pm on Wednesday evening after one of the cables reportedly came loose
Footage from the site showed the tram-like funicular, which carries people up and down a hillside in the Portuguese capital, practically destroyed and emergency workers pulling people out of the wreckage
Three of those hurt are said to be in a ‘critical condition’ according to local reports. Some of the injuries victims have suffered including open fractures
Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said: ‘The President of the Republic deeply regrets the accident that occurred this afternoon with the Gloria funicular railway in Lisbon, particularly the fatalities and serious injuries, as well as the various minor injuries.
‘The President of the Republic offers his condolences and solidarity to the families affected by this tragedy and hopes that the incident will be quickly clarified by the competent authorities.’
Lisbon mayor Carlos Moedas is at the scene.
The funicular railway line, is one of three of its kind in Lisbon and is well used by tourists.
The line, which opened in 1885, connects Lisbon’s downtown area near the Restauradores Square with the Bairro Alto (Upper Quarter), famous for its vibrant nightlife.
It is operated by the municipal public transport company Carris.
Its two cars are attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable with traction provided by electric motors on the two cars.
Emergency teams work at the site of a derailed electric streetcar in Lisbon, Portugal, Wednesday
The car at the bottom of the line was apparently undamaged, but CNN Portugal said passengers had to jump out of its windows when the incident happened
The car at the bottom of the line was apparently undamaged, but CNN Portugal said passengers had to jump out of its windows when the incident happened.
It was opened in 1885 as the second of its kind in the city. Although it was only electrified in 1915, it still retains its original characteristics.
There are unconfirmed reports several people are still trapped.
This is a breaking news story, more to follow.
