Funicular Tragedy in Portugal: At Least 15 Dead, Many Injured Including 5 in Critical Condition

One of Lisbon’s landmarks, the 140-year-old Gloria Funicular, which is a major tourist attraction, derailed around 6:00 p.m. local time after its braking system failed, snapping its cables and going off the rails at a curve.

The funicular, carrying many passengers including tourists, crashed at high speed into a hotel, shattering like cardboard.

An eyewitness said: “The funicular crashed into a building at a very high speed and broke apart like a cardboard box. It fell with tremendous force. Its brakes had completely failed.”

Due to the tragic accident, the Portuguese government declared a one-day national mourning, while the Lisbon Municipality declared three days of mourning.

Source: AA / Hürriyet