Tragic Derailed Streetcar Incident in Lisbon

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — A picturesque electric streetcar in Lisbon, a major attraction for tourists, derailed on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals and injuries to 18 others, according to emergency services.

Among the injured, five are in critical condition, with at least one child affected, reported the National Institute for Medical Emergencies. There were foreign nationals among those injured, although the precise number remains unknown.

This incident has been deemed an accident, marking it as the most severe in Lisbon’s recent history and casting a shadow over the city, which attracts millions of international tourists each year.

The streetcar, known as the Elevador da Gloria, encountered difficulties while navigating a steep hill and ended up tipping over on a narrow road. Its structure was severely damaged after crashing into a nearby building.

Witnesses reported that the streetcar appeared to lose control while descending the hill. One eyewitness recounted watching it topple onto a man walking on the sidewalk.

Carris, the operator of the streetcar, confirmed that routine maintenance had been conducted prior to the tragedy. Subsequently, Lisbon’s City Council temporarily halted operations of all streetcars to conduct thorough inspections.

Officials, including President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Mayor Carlos Moedas, expressed condolences and declared a day of national mourning in Portugal. Moedas described the event as an unprecedented tragedy, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also conveyed her sadness regarding the incident.