On the 3rd (local time), the scene of the funicular derailment accident that occurred in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News
According to reports from international media outlets such as AP and Reuters, at least 15 people were killed and dozens injured on the 3rd (local time) when a funicular, a tram that travels up and down hills, derailed in Lisbon, Portugal. Among the injured is reportedly one Korean woman.
Yonhap News, citing Lisbon's fire authorities, reported that "the accident occurred around 6 p.m. when the cable inside the funicular system came loose, causing the vehicle to lose control and crash into a building." Videos posted on social media showed a yellow funicular, carrying passengers, overturned beside the tracks, surrounded by debris and smoke. So far, 15 people have been confirmed dead and 23 injured in the accident. Portugal's SIC TV reported in an online article that one of the injured is a Korean woman, who is currently hospitalized at Sao Francisco Xavier Hospital.
The funicular is a cable train that climbs the steep slopes of Lisbon, a city known for its hills. It is both an iconic means of transportation and a tourist attraction used by over 3.5 million people annually. The Gloria Line, where the accident occurred, opened in 1885 and runs from Restauradores Square in the city center up to the viewpoint atop Bairro Alto hill. It is the longest of Lisbon's three funicular lines that traverse the city's steep hills, connecting popular tourist destinations.
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