Theatre director Kayleigh Smith and her partner Will Nelson, a drama lecturer, have been named as British victims of the Lisbon funicular crash. MADS Theatre in Macclesfield posted a tribute on Friday night acknowledging their deaths, writing that Ms Smith was a dear friend to many and will be greatly missed.
The Glória funicular, a popular tourist attraction, derailed and crashed into a building on Wednesday, killing 16. Nationals of Portugal, South Korea, Switzerland, Canada, Ukraine, France and the US are also among the dead, police said. A third British victim has yet to be named.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his heartfelt condolences stating he is deeply saddened to hear about the tragic deaths, emphasizing that the UK stands united with Portugal during this difficult time.
The crash occurred at around 18:15 local time near the city's Avenida da Liberdade boulevard. More than 60 rescue personnel responded to the scene, where witnesses described the terrifying event as the carriage overturned and crumpled on the street.
Portugal's Prime Minister Luís Montenegro called the incident one of the biggest human tragedies of our recent history and announced a national day of mourning. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing. The funicular system, important for navigating Lisbon's steep streets, has raised concerns regarding transport safety as officials confirm maintenance was carried out regularly.
