Lisbon Streetcar Tragedy: 15 Dead as Historic Tram Derails

Lisbon, Sep 4 (AP) — Portugal held a national day of mourning on Thursday, following a tragic accident involving a well-known Lisbon streetcar, which derailed and resulted in the deaths of 15 people, marking the capital's worst accident in recent history.

Officials have not yet released information regarding the identities of those who were killed or the details of the 23 people reported injured by police, which increased the initial casualty count. This 19th-century streetcar, a popular Lisbon tourist attraction, is typically crowded with visitors this time of year, offering a scenic journey up and down one of the city's steep hills.

Pathologists at the National Forensics Institute, supported by colleagues from three other Portuguese cities, worked overnight performing autopsies, according to officials. The injured were taken to various hospitals throughout the Lisbon area.

The wreckage of the streetcar remained on the downtown street where it derailed, cordoned off by police, as accident investigators were expected at the scene. Authorities refrained from speculating on the possible causes, such as a faulty brake or a snapped cable.

The Elevador da Gloria, the yellow-and-white streetcar, was found on its side on the narrow road it typically traverses, with its sides and top severely damaged. The vehicle collided with a building as the road curved, leaving sections of the predominantly metal streetcar crushed.

According to Teresa d'Avo, who spoke with Portuguese TV channel SIC, "It hit the building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box." She observed that the streetcar appeared out of control and seemingly without brakes, prompting bystanders to run toward nearby Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon's main artery.

The accident occurred at the onset of the evening rush hour, around 6 pm local time. Emergency personnel reported that all victims were extricated from the wreckage within a little more than two hours.

This streetcar, technically a funicular, is operated by steel cables and can accommodate over 40 passengers, both seated and standing, and is a common mode of transportation for Lisbon residents.

Inaugurated in 1885, the service covers a few hundred meters of a hill along a curved, traffic-free street, in tandem with a streetcar traveling in the opposite direction.

In response to the incident, Lisbon's City Council suspended operations of three other renowned funicular streetcars in the city for immediate inspections.

Classified as a national monument, the Elevador da Gloria is a significant attraction in a city that welcomed approximately 8.5 million tourists last year, often resulting in long queues for the brief rides.

Carris, the company managing the streetcar, assured that scheduled maintenance had been conducted. The company extended its deepest condolences to the victims and their families in a social media post and pledged to exercise due diligence in uncovering the accident's causes.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed his condolences to grieving families, while Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas declared the city in mourning, stating, "It's a tragedy of the like we've never seen."

The Portuguese government declared Thursday a national day of mourning, stating, "A tragic accident … caused the irreparable loss of human life, which left in mourning their families and dismayed the whole country." (AP)

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