Sixteen Dead, Including Two South Koreans,
Twenty-three Injured...
Downtown Lisbon Gripped by Grief
Sixteen people, including two South Koreans, were killed in the derailment of the 'Funicular' tram, which has served downtown Lisbon, Portugal, for 140 years. As most of the casualties have been identified as foreign nationals, citizens continue to express their condolences.
According to the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse on September 4 (local time), a spokesperson for the Portuguese Prosecutor's Office stated that the identities of eight of the deceased have been confirmed so far. Among them are five Portuguese nationals, two South Koreans, and one Swiss national. The identities of the remaining eight victims are still being verified.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro announced in the afternoon that the death toll from the accident stands at 16. Previously, Lisbon city authorities had reported 17 fatalities, but later corrected the figure.
Alvaro Almeida, head of Portugal's health services, said there are 23 injured, with six in intensive care and three sustaining minor injuries. He mentioned that the injured include nationals from Spain, Israel, Brazil, Italy, and France.
The government’s Air and Rail Accident Investigation Agency has completed its analysis of the wreckage and plans to release a preliminary report on September 5. Police stated that the initial investigation results are expected within 45 days.
The accident occurred on September 3 on the Gloria line, which connects Restauradores Square in downtown Lisbon to the Bairro Alto hilltop viewpoint.
The Funicular, which combines elevator and railway technology, serves about 3.5 million passengers annually. The New York Times reported that the cable pulls the tram up and down the slope, while the wheels are designed to run along the tracks.
Local media have suggested that the accident may have been caused by damage to the cable that pulls the tram uphill and brakes it on the descent. Authorities have not commented on possible causes such as brake failure or cable snapping.
Pedro Bogas, CEO of Carris, the tram operator, said at a press conference that a comprehensive maintenance program was implemented last year and that a daily 30-minute visual inspection is conducted, with no defects detected. He also stated that he did not know how many people were on board the tram at the time of the accident but insisted that the number did not exceed the maximum capacity of 42 passengers.
Portugal has designated the day as a national day of mourning. Prime Minister Montenegro said, "This tragedy has crossed borders," and described it as "one of the greatest tragedies in our recent history." As the investigation continues, flowers left by mourners have piled up nearby, and a memorial mass was held at a cathedral for the victims.
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