Lisbon Funicular Accident Victims

Lisbon -Two days after the worst electric tranero accident in Portugal killed 16 people and left more than 20 other people wounded around the world, the authorities in Lisbon said Friday that they had identified almost all the victims, many of whom were crushed until death when the famous elevator of glory was controlled by a Steep hill ,, derailed and dragged into a building.

Although the names have not yet been revealed, the National Police of Portugal said Friday that five Portuguese nationals, three British, two South Koreans, two Canadians, a French woman, a national Switzerland, an American and a Ukrainian were killed in Wednesday’s accident.

A spokesman for the United States Department of State confirmed to News themezone on Thursday that a American was among the 16 people killedbut they have not yet identified the victim.

“Our staff in Lisbon and here in the United States they are working tirelessly to provide consular assistance to the victim and her family. We extend our condolences to the victims and families of all those affected,” said the official. “The embassy is working closely with local authorities to help US citizens in the affected area, and continues to monitor the situation closely. Due to privacy considerations, we do not have additional details at this time.”

At least another 21 passengers were injured, including people from Portugal, Spain, Israel, Brazil, Italy and France, according to the Head of the National Health Service of Portugal. Three German citizens were also injured, including a three -year -old boy, police said Friday.

Millions of people travel in the iconic yellow and white funicular cars of Lisbon every year. It is a popular experience for foreign tourists, and the elevator gives glory, with almost 140 years, has been a great attraction for a long time. In 2024, it is estimated that 29 million foreigners visited Portugal, many passing through the capital and its streets and cobblestone hills.

But the cars of the electric street and the funicular of the hillside are also part of the daily life for many locals.

A Portuguese beneficial organization based on the hill near the top of the elevator funicular da Gloria confirmed on Friday that four of its employees were killed in the accident. It was believed that they were traveling from work.

“We have lost colleagues, friends and people who share our daily lives, as well as our mission,” said Holy Casa da Misericordia in a statement. “We are in shock.”

The president of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and the mayor of Lisbon Carlos Moedas attended a Mass early on Thursday afternoon near the accident site. Speaking to journalists outside the Church, Rebelo de Sousa said: “This is a moment of mourning. It is time to cry to the dead … he prays and thinks of the dead, and support their friends and family.”

The president also requested a clarification of the causes of the accident “as quickly as possible.”

After midnight on Friday, and with few spectators, the workers lifted the shattered remains of the high car of glory that crashed.

As with most funicular, two carriages linked to a steel cable work in tandem: a car rises the hill while the others slowly trund down. The early hours of Wednesday, many people believe that the cable broke, causing the tragedy.

The Portuguese media showed the officials who inspected the frayed ends of the cable that had connected the cars, which they had stopped from underground, on Friday. According to an official of the Fire Brigade, the car down from the top of the hill could not reduce the speed, entered a curve on the hill too fast, derailed and then crashed into the paving pavement and crashed.

Cable and brakes are two of the most common causes of tram accidents.

The president of the Portuguese Order of the Engineers, Almeis Santos, told News themezone that the accident seemed to have been caused by the rupture of the cable.

“It is very strange … for this type of cable. It is not normal and it is almost impossible to have [a] sudden break, “he said.

Santos said that if the cable suddenly breaks, neither manual or automatic brakes in the funicular would have been enough to contain the trams, which, when they are loaded with passengers, weigh about 20 tons each.

Carris, the company that operates the elevator gives glory, has said that regular inspections, including daily controls, have been carried out as necessary.

It was expected that the Air Accident and Railway Research Unit of Portugal would publish a preliminary report on the technical cause of the funicular accident later on Friday. In 45 days, the National Police of Portugal will issue its report on any possible crime involved in the accident.

The mayor said that Lisbon and his three million residents would observe three days of mourning after disaster.

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