At Least 15 Dead, 18 Injured After Historic Tram Derails and Crashes in Lisbon

The mayor of the city called for three days of mourning.

Police and firefighters work at the site of a major funicular railway accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images

At least 15 people died and about 18 were injured on Sept. 3 when a historic railway car in Lisbon, Portugal, derailed and crashed, officials said.

An emergency medical service spokesman in the city and other officials confirmed the death and injury toll in a statement. Authorities did not identify the victims or provide their nationalities but said some foreign nationals were among the dead.

“Lisbon is in mourning. This is a tragic moment for the city,” Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas said in a statement on X on Sept. 3, adding that emergency rescue officials “are on the scene providing assistance.”

He said victims were taken to a nearby hospital, according to a translation from Portuguese.

“I deeply regret the lives lost and all the suffering caused. At this moment, what matters is to act: Support the families, assist the injured, and ensure all necessary support to the authorities on the ground,” Moedas said.

In another post on X, Moedas said that three days of mourning would be held for the victims of the crash, which involved the Glória funicular.

Video footage uploaded on social media showed a tram-like railcar in a crumpled heap, while other footage showed emergency rescue crews pulling people from the wreckage.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said in a statement that he laments the deaths and injuries that were caused by the crash.

“The President of the Republic deeply regrets the accident that occurred this afternoon with the Glória funicular in Lisbon, particularly the fatalities and serious injuries, as well as the numerous minor injuries,” his translated statement said.

A funicular is a type of cable railway system that is laid out on a steep slope and has two carriages that are attached to opposite ends of a cable.

The president offered “condolences and solidarity with the families affected by this tragedy and hopes that the cause of the incident will quickly be clarified by the relevant authorities.”

European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola both stressed that the European Union stands in solidarity with the families and victims of the crash.

“Our hearts are with the people affected by the tragedy of the Glória Elevator, a landmark for Lisbon residents and visitors from around the world,” Metsola wrote in a post on X. “Europe stands in solidarity with the victims, their loved ones, and the entire community in Lisbon. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”

The rail line, which opened in 1885, connects Lisbon’s downtown area near the Restauradores Square with the Bairro Alto. It is one of three funicular lines operated by the municipal public transport company Carris and is used by tourists as well as local residents.

Other details about the crash were not immediately provided by authorities.

Reuters contributed to this report.