One of Lisbon’s most popular tourist attractions, the Gloria funicular railway car, derailed and crashed on Wednesday.
At least 17 people have died and around 18 have been injured, with some foreign nationals among the dead.
“It hit the building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box,” eyewitness Teresa d'Avó told Portuguese TV channel SIC.
It is unclear what caused the carriage to derail and the victim’s identities are yet to be released.
Harrowing video footage shows the moments just after the crash, as locals rush toward the wreckage.
🚨🇵🇹 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢 — Au moins 3 MORTS et 20 blessés, dont 9 grièvement, après le DÉRAILLEMENT du célèbre funiculaire de Lisbonne, au Portugal.
— Bastion (@BastionMediaFR) September 3, 2025
Le bilan reste provisoire et pourrait encore S’ALOURDIR. pic.twitter.com/99IbDoXVrg
One woman can be heard shouting “there’s kids under there”, as children scream and passers-by stand in shock.
Other footage shows desperate residents scouring the rubble of the car, as they look to pull survivors from the debris.
The brakemen of the Gloria Funicular, André Marques, has been identified as one of the 17 victims of the crash.
His death was confirmed by Sitra, the Transport Workers’ Union, which said in a statement: “We extend our condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the accident and wish them a speedy recovery as well as the best recovery to the others injured in the accident.”
Here’s everything we know about the disaster so far:
What have local authorities said?
Authorities say the crash took place just after 6pm on Wednesday, near Lisbon’s Avenida da Liberdade.
More than 60 emergency service personnel and 22 vehicles were deployed to the scene.
It is too early to determine what caused the crash, authorities say.
But Portuguese newspaper Observador reported that a cable came loose along the railway’s route, which caused it to lose control and collide with a building.
It has also been suggested the cable car may have been worn out by overuse or “excessive tourism”.
Fabiana Pavel, who lives close to the funicular railway, told the BBC “it was used too much” to the detriment of local people who felt they could not use it.
Images and video footage showed the mangled yellow tram-like funicular, as people fled the area on foot, with smoke engulfing the street.
A spokesperson for Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was in touch with the local authorities and stood by "to provide consular assistance if there are any affected British nationals".
Emergency workers were seen pulling people out of the wreckage shortly after 6pm local time.
All of the bodies have now been recovered.
Who was onboard the funicular when it crashed?
The Gloria funicular can carry 43 people seated and standing.
It is commonly used by the capital’s residents, as well as being extremely popular with tourists.
It is not yet known how many people were onboard at the time of the collision and the identities of those killed have yet to be released.
How does the funicular work?
First opened in 1885 and electrified in 1915, the Gloria funicular is one of three funicular lines run by Lisbon municipal transport company, Carris.
Two streetcars run parallel to each other, as they carry passengers up and down a steep hillside. As one descends, its weight pulls the other uphill.
According to witnesses, one of the streetcars was seen careening down the hill before it crashed into a building where the road begins.
The Gloria has been designated a national monument and carries around three million passengers each year.
The ride is around 850ft (260 metres) and connects Lisbon’s downtown Restauradores Square with the Bairro Alto (Upper Quarter).
Tourists queue in long lines for the three-minute journey which offers beautiful views of the city.
How have people reacted to the crash?
Carlos Moedas, mayor of the Portuguese capital, said “Lisbon is in mourning” following the funicular crash.
"It's a tragic day for our city... Lisbon is in mourning, it is a tragic, tragic incident," he told reporters.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was “appalled” by the “terrible accident”.
“Appalled by the terrible accident of the Glória funicular in Lisbon,” he wrote on X.
“All our affection and solidarity with the families of the victims and with the Portuguese people in this difficult moment.
“And our wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured people.”
Pedro Bogas from Carris, the Lisbon Tramways Company, told reporters it was a "very a sad day, not just for the victims but also for their families".
"We have strict protocols, excellent professionals for many years, and we need to get to the bottom of what happened," he added.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X: "It is with sadness that I learned of the derailment of the famous Elevador da Glória. My condolences to the families of the victims."
