Video – Lisbon Funicular Drama: What We Know About the Tragedy

There Lisbon disaster chills down the spine.

The entire editorial team is thinking of the families and loved ones of the many victims.

A deadly accident in the heart of the Portuguese capital

Late in the afternoon of September 3, 2025, the Ascensor da Glória, one of Lisbon's most iconic funiculars, derailed mid-descent. The toll was devastating: 15 people lost their lives and 18 were injured, several seriously. The accident plunged the city into mourning and sparked immense emotion across the country.

How the drama unfolded

According to initial reports, the funicular lost control on the steep slope before colliding with a building below. Witnesses described a scene of panic, describing the carriage as unable to brake and being thrown with extreme force.

The technical cause: a faulty cable

Experts agree on one immediate cause: a detached traction cable caused the vehicle to lose control. This type of cable is essential to the safety of a funicular, as it provides both traction and braking. Its sudden rupture turned a routine ride into a disaster.

The question of maintenance

The maintenance of the Ascensor da Glória has been entrusted to a specialist company for over ten years. Regular checks had not revealed any major anomalies during the last inspections, but union voices were already denouncing the insufficient quality of the maintenance work. These warnings had not been followed by any visible effects before the tragedy.

Who is responsible?

Direct responsibility has not yet been officially established. Three leads are at the center of the investigation:

unforeseeable hardware failure, lack of rigor in maintenance, or negligence in monitoring internal alerts.

The public network operator assures that it has complied with all procedures, but the outsourcing of maintenance to a private provider raises questions.

Consequences and ongoing investigation

A judicial and technical investigation is underway to determine the precise cause of the cable break and identify possible negligence. The Portuguese government has declared a national mourning, while the Lisbon municipality has promised to strengthen security controls on all historic public transport.

A shock for Lisbon and for Portugal

This tragedy struck a symbolic location in the capital, frequented by both locals and tourists. The Ascensor da Glória, inaugurated in the 19th century, is part of the country's cultural and tourist heritage. Its accident marks one of the most serious tragedies in the history of Lisbon's transport system.