Portugal is holding a day of mourning after at least 17 people were killed when Lisbon’s Elevador da Gloria funicular derailed and crashed.
According to Lisbon’s fire department, a loose cable caused the funicular to lose control and slam into a building. Local media disclosed that the accident took place just after 6pm (17:00 GMT) during rush hour on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
The Portuguese government declared that the country would observe a day of mourning today, Thursday, September 4, 2025, to commemorate the victims, all of whom have been recovered from the wreckage, according to the emergency services.
Authorities on Thursday raised the death toll to 17 people, with a further 21 injured. The injured people, three of whom were seriously hurt, were being treated in several hospitals in the Lisbon region.
Two of the most badly injured victims died in hospital overnight, raising the initial death toll from 15 to 17. Those killed on the Glória funicular were all adults, according to Margarida Castro Martins, the Head of the city’s civil protection agency.
She said that the victims’ families would be informed before any names or nationalities were released, but confirmed that those injured in the crash included Portuguese people as well as two Germans, two Spaniards and one person each from Canada, Cape Verde, France, Italy, Morocco, South Korea and Switzerland.
Officials in Lisbon have declared three days of mourning in the capital city. Lisbon’s Mayor, Carlos Moedas, who visited the scene shortly after news of the crash emerged, said the city was in mourning. “It’s a tragic day for our city … Lisbon is in mourning. It is a tragic, tragic incident,” he told reporters at the scene.
“This is a tragedy that has never happened before in our city. Now is the time for action and help. I thank everyone for their response in just a few minutes. The only thing I can say is that it’s a very tragic day.”
Carlos Moedas
A statement from the office of the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, said that the tragedy had “brought grief to … families and dismay to the country.”
The President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, lamented the crash and expressed hope that authorities would soon establish its cause. He also directed the concerned authorities to swiftly determine the cause of the accident.
The Portuguese authorities also suspended Lisbon’s three other funiculars for safety checks after the derailment.
Investigation Into Cause Of Crash Launched
Public prosecutors launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. “The public prosecutor’s office will open an investigation,” the Attorney General’s office said in a statement.
It added that the public prosecutor’s office “is carrying out the necessary procedures, within the scope of its powers, particularly for the purpose of preserving evidence, with guidance and in coordination with police agencies.”
The police, national transport safety authority and Carris, the company that runs the Gloria funicular, are also investigating the cause of the accident, according to reports.
The Elevador da Gloria, which first opened in 1885, links the Baixa district with the Bairro Alto neighbourhood, offering sweeping views of the city. It is one of three historic funicular lines and serves both residents and tourists.
The funicular operates on a counterweight system with two cars connected by a cable and powered by electric motors. While the lower car appeared largely intact, the upper carriage sustained significant damage.
Lisbon has seen a surge in tourism in recent years, and summer draws large numbers of visitors to its narrow streets and historic districts.
The Elevador da Gloria is among the city’s best-known attractions, and Wednesday’s crash is one of Portugal’s deadliest transport accidents in recent memory.
