Terrible Funicular Accident in Lisbon: What We Know About the Death of 16 People.

Tragedy on the Funicular in Lisbon

According to The Sun: The tragic events unfolded on the Gloria funicular in Lisbon, where at least 16 people were killed as a result of the accident.

The Gloria funicular, which has become a symbol of Lisbon, is always crowded with tourists and locals exploring the capital of Portugal.

The accident occurred around 18:05 local time when the funicular, filled with passengers, derailed. According to witnesses, one of the cars 'caught air' and gained speed, becoming 'uncontrollable'. The car crashed into a building after colliding with a turn, overturning in the process.

The deceased were pulled from the mangled car, and the number of injured reached 21. Officials warn that the death toll may rise.

Photos taken shortly before the tragedy show the funicular continuing its usual route. A picture taken from a passenger seat shows a steep deserted road leading down.

The ride takes only two minutes and 12 seconds during which the funicular descends from the top of the hill.

Preliminary data suggests that the cause of the accident was a cable break, resulting in the car derailing. Witnesses also noted a possible malfunction of the emergency brakes during the car's descent.

After the crash, the car crashed into a building, resulting in the deaths of locals and many tourists.

Lisbon has declared three days of mourning. Among the dead was the brake supervisor 'André Marques', as well as a German tourist whose wife and three-year-old son survived.

Among the dead are eight women, seven men, and two unidentified victims from various countries, including Portugal, Germany, Spain, South Korea, Canada, Italy, France, Switzerland, Morocco, and Cape Verde.

The police are conducting an investigation to determine the circumstances of the tragedy.

Eyewitnesses saw brave civilians, who witnessed the accident, rushing to help as the car overturned and shattered into pieces.

They climbed up the slope looking for help while concerned spectators gathered below, watching the unfolding situation.

The Lisbon funicular is a popular transportation option that typically accommodates over 40 passengers.

Expert Analysis: What Went Wrong?

Professor Dev Cooper, head of the British Standards Committee on Ropeways, commented on the possible causes of the tragedy.

“From an engineering point of view, it is known that the system was opened in 1885 and likely does not meet the modern requirements for new ropeways. This could be referred to as a heritage system.”

He noted that a major likelihood is a break in the cables connecting the two cars. “From the description, it became apparent that the descending car derailed due to the speed it achieved.”

The Gloria funicular, which connects the Praça dos Restauradores square with the trendy Bairro Alto district, has been operating since 1885.

This funicular has experienced derailments before, but without tragedies. In May 2018, a serious technical problem led to a derailment, but the car remained upright, and no one was injured. Service was suspended for about a month.