On the evening of September 3, 2025, Lisbon’s iconic Elevador da Glória, a yellow-and-white funicular beloved by locals and tourists alike, became the scene of one of Portugal’s most harrowing tragedies in recent memory. Around 6 p.m., as the city’s rush hour pulsed through the historic streets, the streetcar, loaded with about 40 passengers, derailed on its steep descent and slammed into the corner of a hotel building near Restauradores Square. The crash left 16 people dead—including an American—and injured 21 more, sending shockwaves well beyond Portugal’s borders.
The aftermath was immediate and chaotic. According to ABC News, video footage captured the mangled remains of the tram, and emergency workers could be seen pulling survivors and victims from the wreckage. Witnesses described a scene of utter devastation. Teresa d’Avó, who watched the disaster unfold, told Portuguese TV channel SIC, “It crashed into a building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box. It crashed with tremendous force. It didn’t have any kind of brakes.”
The Elevador da Glória, in service since 1914, is one of three such funiculars in Lisbon, carrying millions each year up and down the city’s famously steep hills. On that fateful Wednesday, it was filled not only with local commuters but also international tourists, as is typical during the late summer season. The streetcar’s sudden, uncontrolled plunge down the 17.7 percent incline left many with little chance to react.
As reported by the Daily Mail, the victims were a diverse group. Portugal’s attorney-general’s office confirmed that among the dead were five Portuguese citizens, two South Koreans, and a Swiss national. There was also “a high possibility,” based on documents and other evidence, that the casualties included two Canadians, one American, one German, and one Ukrainian, according to Luís Neves, head of the national investigative police. Three victims remained unidentified as of September 5.
Some of the faces of the tragedy have since emerged. Sandra Coelho, an employee of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia—the largest charity in Portugal—was among the dead, as was her colleague Alda Matias, a Lisbon-based lawyer. Ana Lopes, from Proença-a-Nova, also worked for the charity and leaves behind a daughter, according to CNN Portugal. Pedro Trinidade, a teacher and volleyball referee, was another Portuguese victim. The tram’s brakeman, André Marques, was found dead at the controls. Carris, the company that operates Lisbon’s funiculars, described him as “a dedicated, kind and happy professional, always willing to contribute to the greater good.” Marques had worked for Carris for 15 years and leaves behind two young children.
The trauma extended to survivors and witnesses. Abel Esteves, 75, recounted to local media the terrifying moment the carriage derailed: “I told my wife: ‘We’re all going to die here.’ It picked up a brutal speed, took a slight turn and hit the building with a loud bang.” Another survivor, a three-year-old German boy, was rescued as his father lay dying beside him and his mother, seriously injured, remained trapped. The little boy clung to the police officer who led him to safety, a moment that resonated deeply with the city’s residents and emergency workers.
Portugal’s Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, addressed the nation, calling it “one of the greatest human tragedies in our recent history.” He assured the public that the investigation into the causes of the accident would be thorough and swift. Portugal’s state airline, TAP, offered to provide transportation for the families of victims and to repatriate the injured and deceased. The Pope sent condolences and blessings to the victims, their families, and the rescuers. September 4 was declared a national day of mourning, with flags at half-staff and flowers left at the crash site.
The precise cause of the accident remains under investigation. Early speculation centered on a possible cable failure, as the Lisbon Firefighters Regiment initially reported that a cable had come loose in the funicular’s structure. However, Carris president Pedro Bogas cautioned against jumping to conclusions, stating, “If it had originated from something very obvious, we would have already identified it. The situation is unimaginable, unusual.” The streetcar had undergone a full maintenance program in 2024, with daily visual inspections—including one just nine hours before the disaster. Six technicians and three engineers were responsible for its upkeep, and Carris maintains that all maintenance protocols were followed.
Engineering expert and former city council member Fernando Nunes da Silva told SIC Noticias, “It’s most likely that the traction cable broke and when that cable broke the brakes didn’t work. The descending elevator gained momentum and continued at great speed.” He noted that such vehicles are built with sturdy metal structures and have a strong safety record, making the extent of the destruction all the more shocking. “Even if this doesn’t prevent the derailment, it could have reduced the impact,” he said, expressing concern that the backup braking mechanisms appeared to have failed.
Lisbon’s mayor echoed the need for answers, emphasizing that speculation would only complicate the ongoing investigations. In addition to probes by police, prosecutors, and government transport experts, Carris has launched its own internal review. A preliminary report is expected within 45 days of the crash.
The tragedy has also reignited debates about Lisbon’s booming tourism industry. Fabiana Pavel, president of the Bairro Alto Residents’ Association, told the BBC that “excessive tourism” may have contributed to the disaster, with locals often unable to use the funicular because it had become a tourist attraction. “The use of it in recent years is certainly inappropriate,” she said, touching on a growing concern across southern Europe as cities struggle to balance economic benefits with safety and quality of life for residents.
As the city grieves, stories of heroism and heartbreak continue to emerge. Emergency officials reported that all victims were removed from the carriage within just over two hours, with dozens of firefighters, police, and medics working through the night. Bystanders rushed to help, pulling survivors from the wreckage and comforting the injured. One witness, Yasmin, described to CNN Portugal the chaos: “People were screaming, many people on the ground, already dead… It’s a scene I’ve never seen before. So many people screaming, so much blood.”
In the wake of the disaster, Lisbon’s City Council suspended operations of other streetcars in the city and ordered immediate inspections. Carris pledged its deepest condolences and vowed to cooperate fully with all investigations. The city, still in shock, waits for answers—and for a sense of safety to return to its storied hills.
For now, the Elevador da Glória stands silent, a symbol of both Lisbon’s charm and its collective sorrow, as families mourn, investigators search for the truth, and a city comes to terms with an unimaginable loss.