Tragic Glória Funicular Crash in Lisbon Leaves at Least 16 Dead

Wed Oct 22 2025 02:38:31 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A catastrophic incident involving Lisbon's historic Glória funicular resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries. Eyewitnesses recount harrowing moments as the carriage derailed and crashed into a building.

On the evening of September 3rd, 2025, a tragic accident occurred when a carriage of Lisbon's Glória funicular lost control, crashing into a building on a steep street. At least 16 lives were lost, with around 20 others injured, some critically. Eyewitness accounts describe a scene of chaos and confusion as locals and tourists rushed to aid victims. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing as the community grapples with the aftermath.

It was just after 18:00 on Wednesday when a carriage on Lisbon's famous Glória funicular careened around the bend of a steep cobblestoned street, crashing into a building. Eyewitness Helen Chow reported that the carriage lost control, descending at full speed and crumpling against the structure. It sounded like a bomb, she said, followed by complete scary silence... There was pitch black smoke. Once it dissipated, you saw exactly what happened. Witnesses described people frantically crying and running to help.

The crash resulted in at least 16 fatalities and injured approximately 20 others, some critically, near Lisbon's Avenida da Liberdade. Video footage verified by the BBC illustrates the aftermath, depicting the twisted wreck of the funicular train against the building with another train halted at the bottom.

The Glória funicular, operational for 140 years, utilizes electric motors attached to a cable to allow one carriage to ascend whilst another descends. According to witnesses, the carriage at the base of the hill was about to ascend when it crashed backward a short distance before the upper carriage descended uncontrollably into the building.

Rasha Abdo, a passenger in the lower carriage, described how they experienced uncontrollable acceleration. There were no brakes in our cable car, she recalled. It came to a stop with a 'very hard' hit, and people crashed into each other. Another passenger, Abel Esteves, reported seeing the other carriage racing down the incline towards them, prompting him to shout to his wife, fearing for their lives.

Ms. Chow noted the chaos as the driver rushed to open the gates amid the screams for help. People jumped out of the window of that tram, she recounted. Just as this happened, I saw the other carriage crash into the building next to the Subway restaurant. Tour guide Marianna Figueiredo rushed to lend assistance but was met with devastation upon arrival.

When I got there, the only thing I could hear was silence, she stated, observing first-hand the tragedy. Emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene as the community banded together to provide aid, with many witnesses expressing deep shock and horror over the incident.

Some tourists who had been contemplating riding the funicular moments before the crash expressed relief they had opted for an alternate route. Eric Packer from the U.S. noted the extraordinary noise of the crash, likening it to a rock falling, like a dump truck had dropped a load of rocks. His experience was shared by many, as survivors grapple with the aftermath of this terrible event.