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[winjer]

Portugal in shock as Lisbon funicular crash leaves 17 dead

Portugal declares a day of mourning after the 140-year-old Glória funicular derails and kills at least 17 people, including foreign nationals.

www.bbc.com

Portugal has declared a national day of mourning after an iconic railway cable car crashed in Lisbon, killing at least 17 people and injuring about 20 others.

The 140-year-old Glória funicular, which is popular with tourists, derailed and crashed into a building near Liberty Avenue at around 18:15 local time (17:15 GMT) on Wednesday.

Foreign nationals are among those killed, authorities said, although the identities of the victims have not been confirmed. Some of the injured are in a serious condition.

Lisbon's mayor Carlos Moedas called it a "tragic day for our city".

Footage shared on social media showed the crumpled yellow funicular overturned in the cobblestone street and people running from the area as smoke filled the air.

Several passengers trapped in the wreckage had to be freed by emergency responders, authorities said.

Officials have not confirmed what caused the crash, but eyewitness reports suggested that the braking system on the cable-hauled funicular failed, sending it hurtling down the steep street and into a building.

 

[Nankatsu]

Portuguese here, living near Lisbon.

There's no real cause identified for the accident yet. Speculation says the cable system between the two operating cable cars broke on one end (the one that was going up). Since this cable system is connected between the two cable cars, the one coming down got affected and derailed in the process.

There's also some rumors going on about maintenance contracts, not being correctly fulfilled.

But like I said pure speculation so far, investigations are currently underway.

My condolences to the families affect by this accident. It's a sad day around here.

 

[LimanimaPT]

This are really tragic news.
I've never used them but walked by them countless times.
A symbol of the city.
My condolenses to the families of those that lost their lifes.
Really unacceptable that a cable in a system like this can brake or get loose.

 

[Hookshot]

I've been to one of these in Devon and assuming it's a similar type they are so basic it'll probably be a failure of maintenance. It's just water and gravity, there's not a lot to go wrong mechanically.

 

[Beretta]

Jesus, that's awful. RIP to all those who died.

 

[p_xavier]

RIP. I was in Québec City when the same thing happened and major injuries to people in it. I will never get into a funicular again for sure.

Le 12 octobre 1996, des défaillances provoquent un accident au funiculaire de Québec

Il y a 25 ans, des défaillances contribuent à la chute d'une cabine du funiculaire de Québec.

ici.radio-canada.ca

 

[Robot Carnival]

do locals use these or is it only tourists? either way, that's such a an unfortunate incident. RIP to those who died in this.

 

[Nankatsu]

do locals use these or is it only tourists? either way, that's such a an unfortunate incident. RIP to those who died in this.

Locals use it on a daily basis. The pathway itself is quite steep. Some do it on foot, some don't.

Some of the people that died just had left their jobs and were going home.