A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro says he has cancelled his agenda for all of Thursday with regards to the day of mourning.
"The government declared a day of national mourning for the Ascensor da Glória tragedy in Lisbon," read a statement issued by Montenegro's office last night.
"It's a tragic day for our city... Lisbon is in mourning, it is a tragic, tragic incident," Mayor of Lisbon Carlos Moedas said yesterday evening.
Alongside the Police, the office of the public prosecutor and the company that runs the historic tram ride are also commencing investigations into the accident.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing people screaming and flying out of the cable cars after a cable came loose while the tram moved.
They also said they saw the tram "moving like it had no brakes".
Officials have yet to release the identity of those involved in the crash and their nationalities.
The popular funicular railway car in Lisbon, the Gloria, had derailed and crashed into a building on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 18 others.
Five of the injured are in serious condition, according to the National Institute for Medical Emergencies. Among the injured is a child. The cause of the crash, which occurred at approximately 6:05 p.m local time, is under investigation.
Authorities have not yet identified all the victims, but confirmed that some foreign nationals and Portuguese citizens were among the dead. All people who were trapped at the scene have been freed.
The crash site showed the tram-like funicular "practically destroyed," with its sides and top partially crumpled. Emergency workers, including 62 personnel and 22 vehicles, were on the scene pulling people from the wreckage.
Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas called it a "tragic day for our city," and said in a post on X that "Lisbon is in mourning." He also stated that emergency response teams from the fire brigade, civil protection, and municipal police were providing assistance, and that victims had been taken to the hospital.
Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa "deeply regrets" the "fatalities and serious injuries," and offered his condolences to the affected families. He also hoped for clarity from authorities soon. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also offered her condolences to the victims' families.
The Gloria funicular, which is a national monument, connects downtown Lisbon's Restauradores square with the Bairro Alto neighborhood. It is one of three funiculars in the city and is a popular route for both residents and tourists, especially at the end of the summer season. It travels 275 meters and takes just three minutes to make the journey.
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