At least 15 dead and 18 injured as funicular derails in Lisbon

"At least 15 people died and around 18 were injured on Wednesday when Lisbon's Gloria funicular railway car, which is popular with tourists, derailed and crashed, an emergency medical service spokesman told reporters. Authorities would not identify the victims or disclose their nationalities, but said some foreign nationals were among the dead. "It's a tragic day for our city. ... Lisbon is in mourning, it is a tragic, tragic incident," Carlos Moedas, the mayor of the Portuguese capital, told reporters."

"Footage from the site showed the tram-like funicular, which carries people up and down a hillside in the Portuguese capital, practically destroyed and emergency workers pulling people out of the wreckage. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offered his condolence to families affected by what had happened. The yellow-and-white streetcar, which goes up and down a steep city hill, was lying on its side on the narrow road that it travels along, Portuguese television channels showed."

"Its sides and top were partially crumpled. Several dozen emergency workers were at the scene. The cause of the accident was not immediately known, local media said. It reportedly occurred at the start of the evening rush hour, around 6 p.m. The streetcar, known as Gloria, can carry more than 40 people, seated and standing. It is commonly used by Lisbon resident It was not immediately clear what had caused the crash."

At least 15 people were killed and around 18 injured when the Gloria funicular in Lisbon derailed and crashed on a steep city hill around 6 p.m. Some of the dead were foreign nationals. The tram-like streetcar was found on its side with its sides and top partially crumpled while emergency workers pulled people from the wreckage. Several dozen emergency responders were at the scene. The streetcar can carry more than 40 seated and standing passengers and is commonly used by Lisbon residents. Authorities have not determined the cause and have not identified victims publicly.

Read at Irish Independent