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Portugal is in mourning after a historic cable car in Lisbon derailed and slammed into a building, killing 15 people and injuring 18 others, five of them seriously.
The accident happened Wednesday afternoon on Avenida da Liberdade, one of the capital’s busiest streets, when the 140-year-old Gloria cable car lost control and careened downhill. Videos posted online showed the iconic yellow tram overturned and mangled, with debris scattered across the avenue as panicked bystanders ran for cover.
Witnesses said the brakes appeared to fail. “It was out of control, without brakes,” one said. Another described the car “flying down the hill” before it smashed into the building with “incredible force.”
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Death of 15 people and injuries to others after a cable car derailed in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. pic.twitter.com/yajnqbitg1
Authorities have not yet confirmed the nationalities of the victims, though officials said foreign tourists are likely among the dead.
Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas called it a “tragic moment for the city” after visiting survivors in the hospital. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offered condolences and stood in solidarity with grieving families. The government has declared a national day of mourning.
Carris, the company that operates Lisbon’s trams, said the Gloria had undergone all required safety checks, including routine daily and monthly inspections and more extensive reviews every two and four years. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Authority and police are working alongside the company to determine what went wrong.
European leaders voiced their shock. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent condolences, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was “shaken by the terrible accident.”
For now, Lisbon is left grappling with grief and unanswered questions over how one of its most beloved landmarks became the site of one of the city’s deadliest tragedies.
