The Portuguese government said the country would observe a day of mourning on Thursday to commemorate the victims, all of whom have been recovered from the wreckage, according to the emergency services.<\/p>\n
The tram, one of Lisbon\u2019s major tourist attractions, came off the rails and hit a building late on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities on Thursday raised the death toll to 17 people, with a further 21 injured.<\/p>\n
Officials have not released the victims\u2019 identities or nationalities but initially said some of the deceased were foreign nationals. On Thursday, they reported that at least 11 of the injured were foreign.<\/p>\n
The Portuguese government quickly announced the day of national mourning. Officials in Lisbon have declared three days of mourning in the capital city.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a tragic day for our city \u2026 Lisbon is in mourning. It is a tragic, tragic incident,\u201d Mayor Carlos Moedas told reporters at the scene.<\/p>\n
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed condolences over the \u201ctragedy\u201d.<\/p>\n
Investigation<\/p>\n
Footage from the crash site showed the yellow carriage lying mangled against a building as firefighters pulled passengers from the wreckage. Emergency crews worked into the night to clear debris from the steep hillside railway.<\/p>\n
The president has directed the concerned authorities to swiftly determine the cause of the accident.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe public prosecutor\u2019s office will open an investigation,\u201d the attorney general\u2019s office said in a statement, according to national news agency Lusa.<\/p>\n
It added that the public prosecutor\u2019s office \u201cis carrying out the necessary procedures, within the scope of its powers, particularly for the purpose of preserving evidence, with guidance and in coordination with police agencies\u201d.<\/p>\n
The police, national transport safety authority and Carris, the company that runs the Gloria funicular, are also investigating the cause of the accident, according to reports.<\/p>\n
Lisbon\u2019s fire department said a loose cable caused the funicular to lose control and slam into a building. The accident took place just after 6pm (17:00 GMT) during rush hour, according to local media.<\/p>\n
![\"Police](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/000_73C39Q6-1756931138.jpg\")
A loose cable is blamed for the derailment and crash of the funicular, which is both a practical transport resource for locals and an attraction for tourists [Patricia De Melo Moreira\/AFP]<\/p>\n
Images circulating online showed one car flipped beside the rails and surrounded by debris while passengers scrambled to safety. Video footage aired by CNN Portugal captured another car jolting violently on the track with panicked passengers leaping from windows.<\/p>\n
The Elevador da Gloria, which first opened in 1885, links the Baixa district with the Bairro Alto neighbourhood, offering sweeping views of the city. Operated by Lisbon\u2019s public transport company Carris, it is one of three historic funicular lines and serves both residents and tourists.<\/p>\n
The funicular operates on a counterweight system with two cars connected by a cable and powered by electric motors. While the lower car appeared largely intact, the upper carriage sustained significant damage.<\/p>\n
Lisbon has seen a surge in tourism in recent years, and summer draws large numbers of visitors to its narrow streets and historic districts. The Elevador da Gloria is among the city\u2019s best-known attractions, and Wednesday\u2019s crash is one of Portugal\u2019s deadliest transport accidents in recent memory.<\/p>\n
![\"Interactive_Lisbon_streetcar_crash_September4_2025-1756970353\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Interactive_Lisbon_streetcar_crash_September4_2025-1756970353.png\")
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