Portugal is in mourning after a devastating accident in Lisbon claimed the lives of 16 people and left around 20 others injured. On Wednesday evening, the city’s famous Glória funicular — a century-old cable railway that climbs one of Lisbon’s steepest hills — derailed unexpectedly. For locals, the funicular is a daily lifeline; for visitors, it is one of the capital’s most iconic attractions. Now, the cheerful yellow carriage has become the scene of one of Portugal’s deadliest transport tragedies in recent memory. Shock has rippled through the country as officials declared a national day of mourning, families grieve loved ones, and investigators work to determine what caused the disaster.
Among the victims was André Jorge Gonçalves Marques, a brake guard who worked aboard the funicular. His death has drawn heartfelt tributes from colleagues and Portugal’s transport union, which praised him as a “dedicated, kind, and happy professional.” Marques had been part of Carris, the company operating the railway, and his sudden loss underscores the human cost borne not only by passengers but also by those tasked with keeping the system safe.
Foreign nationals were also among the dead and injured, though their identities have not yet all been confirmed. Emergency services reported that victims came from across Europe and beyond, including Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, South Korea, Morocco, and Cape Verde. One of the most harrowing stories to emerge involves a German family of three. Local media said the father died at the scene, while the mother remains in critical condition. Miraculously, their three-year-old son suffered only minor injuries and has been discharged from the hospital.
The injured include 12 women and seven men ranging in age from 24 to 65, in addition to the child. Five of those injured were rushed to Lisbon’s São José hospital in critical condition, though doctors later reported that three were stable while one remained in intensive care. Another victim succumbed to injuries there on Thursday. A pregnant woman and several others with minor injuries have since been released, though the emotional recovery will take far longer.
The tragedy has also touched local institutions. Reports confirmed that a man in his 50s and a woman in her 40s, both employees of the charity Santa Casa da Misericórdia, lost their lives. Seven other staff members from the same organization were injured, reflecting how the crash devastated not just families but workplaces and community groups.
While officials race to understand what went wrong, many questions remain unanswered. Authorities have not yet confirmed how many passengers were on board at the time of derailment, nor the full list of victims. Investigators will examine whether mechanical failure, human error, or maintenance issues played a role. For now, Portugal grieves deeply, with the iconic funicular — once a symbol of Lisbon’s charm — now standing as a reminder of fragility, loss, and the need for accountability in public safety.
