Portugal Declare National Mourning After 15 People Die for Lisbon Cable Train Accident

Portugal don declare national day of mourning after the Glória funicular, one of Lisbon’s most iconic tourist attractions — derail and crash into one building near Liberty Avenue, kill at least 15 people and injure 18 others. The accident happen around 6:15pm local time (5:15 GMT) on Wednesday, when the 140-year-old cable train, wey tourists dey use well well, lose control for the steep road inside the city centre. Authorities talk say some of the people wey die be foreign nationals, but dem never confirm their identities. Five of the injured people still dey in serious condition. Lisbon Mayor, Carlos Moedas, describe the incident as “a tragic day for our city.” Videos for social media show the yellow train carriage scatter and overturn for cobblestone street, smoke full everywhere, as people dey run from the scene. Emergency workers rescue some passengers wey trap inside the wreck. Witnesses say the train no get brakes and jam the building with heavy force. Another eyewitness talk say the train miss another carriage, bend, then crash into the building.

Report talk say one cable loose along the track, wey make the funicular lose control. Witnesses confirm say the train dey “out of control, without brakes.” Lisbon prosecutors, police, and national transport investigators don open full inquiry into the matter. The public transport operator, Carris, talk say dem do all safety checks and maintenance well. “All maintenance protocols dem follow. Interim maintenance happen last year and we do regular weekly and monthly checks. We dey very sorry for wetin happen,” the company talk. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Spain Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez don send their condolences. Portugal President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also express sympathy to the victims’ families. The Glória funicular, wey first open in 1885 and turn electric 30 years later, na bright yellow train wey dey carry passengers on top 275-meter steep road from Restauradores Square to Bairro Alto within three minutes.