Lisbon is reeling after one of its most beloved tourist attractions turned into the scene of a national tragedy. The death toll from Wednesday’s derailment of the historic Elevador da Gloria streetcar rose to 17 on Thursday after two victims succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Another 21 people were hurt, including tourists from Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Morocco, South Korea, and Cape Verde, along with Portuguese citizens.
Authorities confirmed that the victims were all adults, though families were still being notified before names or nationalities could be officially released. Among the injured was a 3-year-old child, now receiving medical care. The accident struck during the evening rush hour, around 6 p.m., when the streetcar, packed with riders eager to experience the famous climb through Lisbon’s steep streets, careened off the track and smashed into a building with such force that witnesses described it as “falling apart like a cardboard box.”
British tourist Felicity Ferriter recalled hearing “a horrendous crash” from her nearby hotel room, adding that she and her husband had planned to ride the streetcar the next day. “It could have been us,” she said, praising the emergency response that saw police and ambulances rush to the scene within minutes. For others, the disaster left a chilling impression. Italian visitor Francesca di Bello, who had taken the same ride just hours before, said she would never board a funicular again.
The Elevador da Gloria, first inaugurated in 1885 and designated a national monument, is one of Lisbon’s most iconic sights. The yellow-and-white car, powered by steel cables and capable of carrying over 40 passengers, has long been both a daily commuter option and a must-see tourist ride. With 8.5 million visitors recorded in Lisbon last year, long queues typically form for the short but scenic trip linking Restauradores Square to the nightlife district of Bairro Alto.
But on this occasion, the journey ended in catastrophe. Investigators are still working to determine what caused the derailment, though speculation has focused on possible brake failure or a snapped cable. The brakeman, Andre Marques, was confirmed dead by the local transport union. Emergency crews pulled all victims from the wreckage within two hours, while forensic pathologists worked overnight on autopsies.
The shockwaves of the disaster were felt across Portugal and beyond. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas both offered condolences, with Moedas calling it “a tragedy of the like we’ve never seen.” The Portuguese government declared a national day of mourning, and flags across European Union institutions in Brussels flew at half-staff. Carris, the company operating the service, suspended all other funiculars in the city pending inspection and promised full transparency as the investigation continues.
For now, the city’s mourning is marked by grief, disbelief, and the haunting knowledge that a ride meant to delight visitors instead brought Portugal its deadliest disaster in recent history.