— A crash on the Elevador de Gloria funicular in Lisbon on Wednesday left at least 15 people dead and more than a dozen injured; emergency teams are working at the site and authorities have opened a formal investigation.
Key Takeaways
- At least 15 fatalities and over a dozen injured in the Elevador de Gloria crash on Sept. 3, 2025.
- Emergency crews responded at the scene; video and photos show a yellow car on its side with significant structural damage.
- Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro offered condolences and ordered an investigation.
- Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas declared three days of mourning for the victims.
- The Elevador de Gloria connects the Baixa and Bairro Alto neighborhoods; the city has two other funicular lines.
- Authorities have not yet released a confirmed cause; mechanical failure and track issues are under inquiry.
Verified Facts
Local officials reported the incident on Sept. 3, 2025. Emergency services attended the scene immediately; hospitals received multiple injured passengers. The death toll currently stands at 15, with authorities describing additional casualties as numbering “more than a dozen.” These figures are from official municipal and national statements released during the evening of Sept. 3.
Video footage verified by NBC News showed a yellow funicular car lying on its side amid scattered debris and a cracked roof. Separate imagery and on-site reporting documented rescue teams and bystanders searching through twisted metal at the scene. An AP photographer captured emergency personnel working around a derailed streetcar.
The funicular involved is identified as the Elevador de Gloria, which operates between Lisbon’s Baixa and Bairro Alto neighborhoods according to the local tourism authority. Lisbon operates two other hill-lift lines that serve steep central routes and are regularly used by residents and tourists.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro publicly expressed condolences and said a formal investigation has been launched to determine the cause. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas announced three days of official mourning for the victims.
Context & Impact
Funiculars are a longstanding element of Lisbon’s public transport and tourist landscape, providing quick access on steep city inclines. An accident of this scale is rare for the city’s heritage lifts and will likely prompt immediate safety reviews.
Short-term impacts include service suspensions on the Elevador de Gloria, investigations by transport and safety authorities, and potential inspections of the two other funicular lines. The accident may also affect visitor confidence and local mobility in the affected neighborhoods during the inquiry and recovery operations.
- Transport: immediate suspension and inspection of the route.
- Community: three days of mourning and local support services for victims and families.
- Regulatory: expected technical and operational probe by national safety agencies.
“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families; an investigation is underway to establish what happened.”
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro / Mayor Carlos Moedas
Unconfirmed
- No definitive cause has been released; any claims about specific mechanical faults or operator error are unconfirmed pending the official probe.
- Exact final casualty and injury counts may change as authorities complete victim identification and hospital reporting.
Bottom Line
The Elevador de Gloria crash is one of the deadliest recent incidents involving Lisbon’s heritage transport and has triggered a formal investigation and a period of official mourning. Authorities have prioritized rescue, victim support and a technical inquiry; further updates are expected as investigators examine mechanical records, video evidence and witness statements.