At least one person has been confirmed dead and several others injured after a funicular railway in Lisbon suffered a fatal crash, leaving eyewitnesses describing the scene as “out of control.”
The accident occurred on Thursday in the Portuguese capital when the historic hillside carriage reportedly malfunctioned, sending passengers into panic. Emergency services rushed to the scene, where firefighters and medics worked to rescue victims trapped inside the wreckage.
Local witnesses said the funicular appeared to gain speed unexpectedly before the crash. “People were screaming. It was out of control—nobody knew what was happening,” one eyewitness told reporters.
Authorities have since launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident, with early indications pointing to possible mechanical failure.
Lisbon officials have expressed condolences to the victims’ families and promised a full safety review of the city’s funicular transport system, which is a popular attraction for both tourists and locals.
Transport analysts note that while Lisbon’s funiculars are iconic symbols of the city’s heritage, the accident will likely raise questions about the maintenance and modernization of the century-old system.