Death toll rises to 16 in Glória Elevator derailment

The Glória Funicular derailment left 16 people dead and 23 injured, including five seriously, according to the Lisbon Civil Protecion municipal services. The accident occurred this Wednesday, around 6 p.m., midway along the 265-meter stretch connecting Restauradores to Jardim São Pedro de Alcântara in Lisbon.

The accident reportedly occurred after one of the cables on the elevator, which can carry 43 people, broke. Carris, the operator of the Glória elevator, assured Lusa news agency that it “has activated all available resources” and that “the priority is to monitor the situation and all those involved.”

The Judicial Police are already on site and will conduct an investigation into the causes of the accident, through the Homicide Squad, according to sources consulted by ECO. On behalf of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, CNN reports that an investigation into the accident has already been opened.

The regulator, the Mobility and Transport Authority, also indicated in a statement that it will conduct “a surveillance action on the accident, the results of which will be released as quickly as possible.”

The Mayor of Lisbon is present at the scene. Carlos Moedas says the “city is in mourning” after a “very serious” accident.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in a note on the Presidency’s website, already lamented the “serious accident” involving the Glória elevator and asked that the “occurrence be quickly clarified by the competent authorities.” This tragedy will declare a day of national mourning.

The Prime Minister’s office, in a statement sent to newsrooms, stated that it is “monitoring the situation and the response of the various public medical emergency authorities, health units, civil protection, security forces, and transportation, to whom instructions have been given to provide all necessary support.”

(Update at 15h32 on Thursday, 4 september, with most recent official numbers)