In a shocking incident in the heart of Lisbon, a funicular crash has left 16 people dead, while a three-year-old German boy was rescued from the wreckage. The boy’s mother is among more than 20 individuals reported injured in this tragic event.
Witnesses were filled with disbelief as they gathered around the site where the funicular crashed, with nationals from Portugal, South Korea, Switzerland, Canada, France, Britain, Ukraine, and the US among the deceased. Fortunately, a German citizen originally reported dead was later discovered to be alive in a local hospital.
The cause of the fatal crash remains unclear, prompting Lisbon's public transport operator, Carris, to initiate an independent investigation and conduct thorough inspections of all funiculars.
In a heartfelt gathering, Portugal’s political elite attended a memorial service at the Church of St Dominic, while community members outside expressed their desire for a comprehensive investigation. As one local articulated, We need people to know they're safe here.
Tourists and locals alike are shaken by the event, with some who had planned to ride the funicular being grateful for a last-minute change of plans. A tour guide at the scene described her trauma as she rushed to help victims and witnessed the devastation firsthand.
Emergency responders worked actively to free trapped passengers as the scale of the tragedy unfolded.
In the wake of the incident, all funicular services in Lisbon are now temporarily shut down as officials assess safety protocols and future measures to prevent such tragedies.
