The death toll after an iconic tourist attraction in Portugal derailed and crashed has risen to 15.
The Gloria funicular railway in Lisbon,one of three in the country’s capital city,has been practically destroyed in the collision at around 6pm this evening.
Crying children and shouting adults were seen emerging from huge clouds of dust as they fled the scene,after a carriage collided with a building housing a Subway.
The crash happened at the end of the funicular rail track,which runs along a narrow road,the Rua da Gloria,between two tall buildings close to the busy Rossio railway station.
The Rua da Gloria is also home to several hotels,restaurants,and shops.
In their latest update the emergency services said at least 15 people have died and 18 others,including a child,have been injured.
Emergency services at the scene of the wreckage (Picture: REUTERS)
Emergency workers have been pulling survivors out of the wreckage,but authorities say that everyone who had been trapped after the crash has now been freed.
Five of those injured are in a serious condition while the remaining 13,including the child,suffered minor injuries.
Portuguese newspaper Observador reported a cable came loose along the railway’s route,causing it to lose control and crash into a building.
An eyewitness,Teresa d’Avó,told the outlet: ‘The people inside were obviously scared,and we rushed to help.
‘Soon after,we saw the elevator upstairs was out of control,without brakes,and we all started running away because we thought it was going to hit the one below.
‘But it fell around the bend and crashed into the building.’
The funicular is located in the heart of Lisbon (Picture: Metro Graphics)
Another witness said the carriage landed on a man who was walking on the pavement after it careered down the hill,apparently out of control.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa ‘expresses his condolences and solidarity with the families affected by this tragedy’.
The mayor of Lisbon,Carlos Moedas,said the city is in mourning and has declared three days of mourning for those killed.
The identities of those killed or injured have not been confirmed,but authorities said that an unknown number of foreigners had been injured or killed in the collision as well as some Portuguese nationals.
At least 15 people have died in the crash (Picture: REUTERS)
The Gloria funicular railway,which opened in 1885,links downtown Lisbon to the Bairro Alto district.
It’s considered a national monument and the 275m route is popular with tourists as well as local commuters.
Carris,the maintenance company responsible for managing the Elevador da Glória,insisted that ‘monthly,weekly and daily inspection maintenance programs have been scrupulously followed’.
The last general maintenance was carried out in 2022 with interim repairs in 2024.
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