Lisbon Cable Car Crash Kills 17, Injures 20+

Horrifying footage shows rescuers running over to the wreckage of a funicular tram after it crashed and killed at least 17 people in Lisbon.

Distressed onlookers can be heard screaming "there's kids under there" seconds after the cable car with tourists on board derailed and smashed into a building.

The Gloria Funicular – one of the Portuguese capital’s most iconic attractions – came off its tracks after a cable reportedly came loose on Wednesday.

Another 21 people were injured in the horrifiying crash.

The tram sped down the street out of control before smashing into the building on the bend at full speed and seemingly without brakes, reported local media.

Horrifying footage shows rescuers running over to the wreckage of a funicular tram after it crashed and killed at least 17 people in Lisbon.

Distressed onlookers can be heard screaming "there's kids under there" seconds after the cable car with tourists on board derailed and smashed into a building.

The Gloria Funicular – one of the Portuguese capital’s most iconic attractions – came off its tracks after a cable reportedly came loose on Wednesday.

Another 21 people were injured in the horrifiying crash.

The tram sped down the street out of control before smashing into the building on the bend at full speed and seemingly without brakes, reported local media.

Witnesses described the car crumpling like a "cardboard box" when it hit the wall.

The funicular was destroyed as a witness recalled seeing a pedestrian crushed under the wreckage as it tipped over.

Lisbon is now facing three days of mourning - with the first victims identities being released, such as brakeman André Marques.

And a second victim is reported a German tourist who was on the tram with his wife and son, 3 - both of who survived.

It is understood to be eight women, seven men and two unidentified victims.

Among the dead and injured are understood to be Portugese nationals, Germans, Spainards, and people from South Korea, Canada, Italy, France, Switzerland, Morocco and Cape Verde.

Police are now investigating as they desperately try to piece together the tragedy.

Shocking footage shows brave civilians who saw the bright yellow and white streetcar crash rush over to help with the rescue operation.

Dozens sprinted up the steep road to find the car had flipped on its side and was torn apart into splintered metal.

Clouds of dust and smoke had engulfed the narrow lane as a crowd of concerned onlookers gathered at the bottom of the hill.

A panicked witness can be heard begging for help after saying they could hear the screams of children trapped beneath the debris.

A three-year-old child was found with minor injuries, according to local media.

Terrified onlooker Teresa d’Avo told TV channel SIC: "It crashed into a building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box.

"It crashed with tremendous force. It didn't have any kind of brakes.

"The people inside were obviously scared, and we rushed to help."

Bruno Pereira - who lived on Rua da Glória for 10 years - gave a detailed account of the crash to CNN Portugal.

He described how the bottom tram appeared to derail with a "metallic thud".

And then a few seconds later - the top tram came screaming down the hill at "breakneck speed", smashing into the bend as if it had been "thrown" down the hill".

Bruno said: "It was panic. We all ran, everyone there. Some tried to pull people out from under the tram.

"The bodywork was destroyed, there were cobblestones everywhere, and the metal grooves, so to speak, where the elevator used to run were all ripped out."

He revealed a little boy came out of the wreckage, begging for someone to pick him up.

Fire crews and paramedics arrived shortly after as they swarmed the wreckage.

Rescue teams hauling stretchers had to use specialised cutting equipment to get inside the mangled carriage.

Civil protection officials said 62 rescue workers and 22 vehicles were deployed to the site for the two hour rescue and recovery mission.

Portugal’s National Institute of Medical Emergencies confirmed that some of the victims were foreign nationals.

A pregnant German woman is in a critical condition, according to Observador.

An Italian woman also broke her arm, Corriere della Sera reports citing the Italian embassy in Lisbon.

André Marques, the brake guard in charge of the funicular when it derailed, has been named as the first victim.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the derailment, but initial reports suggest that a cable snapped.

Witnesses pointed to an apparent failure of emergency brakes once the carriage ran loose.

Fabiana Pavel, president of the Bairro Alto Residents’ Association, told the BBC that the tragic crash could be due to “excessive tourism”.

They said: “The use of it in recent years is certainly inappropriate. It was used too much and the population lost the ability to use it as public transport, because it became a tourist attraction.”

Portugal's government has declared a national day of mourning.

João Oliveira, director of the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Police, said the number of serious injuries was “slightly higher” than first thought.

It comes as the UK Foreign Office confirmed they are in contact with Lisbon authorities and are ready to provide support to any British nationals who may have been affected.

A witness told SIC news channel: “Sadly, I saw there was a man on the pavement at the precise point where the tram smashed into the building.”

The Mayor of Lisbon announced three days of mourning for the city, and Portugal's government said there would also be one day of national mourning.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said: “The President of the Republic deeply regrets the accident that occurred this afternoon with the Gloria funicular railway in Lisbon, particularly the fatalities and serious injuries, as well as the various minor injuries.

“The President of the Republic offers his condolences and solidarity to the families affected by this tragedy and hopes that the incident will be quickly clarified by the competent authorities.”

Pedro Bogas, head of Lisbon's tramways company, Carris, said it is a "very a sad day, not just for the victims but also for their families".

He said: "We are very sorry about what happened. Today is a day of consternation."

The transport boss said that there are daily inspections of the funicular - and general renovations are conducted once every four years.

The last time the funicular underwent general upkeep work was in 2022, he said.

Bogas said: "We have strict protocols, excellent professionals for many years, and we need to get to the bottom of what happened."

The crash happened during the evening rush hour, when both tourists and locals pack the service which can hold up to 43 people.

The funicular, known as Gloria, can carry more than 40 passengers at a time, both seated and standing, and is also frequently used by Lisbon residents for their daily commute.

The funicular is made up of two cars permanently attached at either end of the same haulage cable so that as one rises the other descends.

The Glória funicular links Praça dos Restauradores to the trendy Bairro Alto district and has ferried tourists up the steep hillside since 1885.

It is one of three of its kind in Lisbon.

The Glória funicular has come off the tracks before, though never with such devastating consequences.

On May 7, 2018, a major maintenance fault led to a derailment, but the carriage stayed upright and no one was hurt.

Service was suspended for around a month.