Portugal is reeling after a devastating accident in Lisbon claimed the lives of 15 people when the city’s iconic Gloria funicular derailed and crashed into a building. The incident occurred around 18:05 near Avenida da Liberdade, leaving another 18 people injured, five of them critically.

Authorities confirmed that foreign nationals were among the dead, though their nationalities have yet to be disclosed. Eyewitnesses reported that the funicular appeared to have lost its brakes, gaining uncontrollable speed before hitting a building with what one described as “brutal force.”

Footage circulating on social media showed the bright yellow carriage overturned and almost destroyed, with smoke rising as people fled the scene. Rescue workers spent hours extracting passengers trapped in the wreckage.

Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas called it a “tragic moment for the city” during his hospital visit. Portugal’s government declared a day of national mourning, while President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed his “sympathy and solidarity” with victims’ families. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also offered condolences.

The Gloria funicular, in service since 1885 and electrified in the early 20th century, is one of Lisbon’s most famous tourist attractions. It connects Restauradores Square to Bairro Alto, covering a steep 275-metre route in just three minutes. At the time of the accident, the city was crowded with end-of-summer visitors.

Lisbon’s public transport operator Carris stated that the funicular had undergone major four-yearly and biennial maintenance checks, along with regular inspections. However, eyewitness accounts suggest that the braking system failed, and reports indicate that a loose cable may have caused the derailment.

Multiple investigations are under way, including by the national transport safety authority, the criminal police, and Carris. Authorities have cautioned that it is too early to determine the exact cause of the crash.

The Gloria funicular, long celebrated as a symbol of Lisbon’s charm, now stands at the centre of one of the worst transport tragedies in the city’s history, leaving residents and visitors alike in deep grief.