At least 15 people were killed and 18 others injured, including foreign tourists, in a tragic accident involving the iconic “Gloria” cable car in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 3, when the cable car derailed and overturned.
The Lisbon “Gloria” cable car accident resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people and left 18 others injured, with 5 of them in critical condition, according to reports from Reuters. While the identities and nationalities of the victims have not been officially released, it has been confirmed that foreign tourists were among those who lost their lives.
“This is a tragic day for our city… Lisbon is in mourning, and this is an extremely painful accident,” said Carlos Moedas, the Mayor of Lisbon, addressing the press.
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also expressed his condolences and stated that he hopes authorities will quickly determine the cause of the accident.
Footage from the scene showed the severely damaged yellow cable car wreckage, with rescue workers pulling passengers out of the car. Although the cable car at the other end was not damaged, a video aired by CNN Portugal showed that it was shaking violently at the time of the accident, causing passengers to panic and escape through windows, resulting in a scene of chaos.
The “Gloria” cable car line, which has been in operation since 1885, connects Restauradores Square in the city center with the renowned nightlife district of Bairro Alto. Operated by the municipal public transport company Carris, it is one of the three cable car lines in Lisbon.
In recent years, Portugal, especially Lisbon, has experienced a tourism boom, with the downtown area often crowded with visitors during the summer. The “Gloria” iconic cable car line serves as both a daily mode of transport for residents and a popular tourist attraction, carrying approximately 3 million people annually.
Carris stated in a release that the cable car has always adhered to all maintenance standards, including monthly and weekly servicing, as well as daily checks. The line consists of two cabins, each able to accommodate around 40 people, fixed at either end of the cable propelled by electric motors.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, with both the police and the prosecutor’s office announcing that a formal inquiry will be conducted in accordance with the law.