A man shared his terrifying experience when the tram he was on derailed and crashed in Lisbon, expressing his fear for his wife and grandson’s lives. Authorities have confirmed the identities of eight victims of the tragic incident, which resulted in 16 fatalities and 21 injuries. Among the deceased are five Portuguese, two South Koreans, and a Swiss national, with the potential inclusion of two Canadians, an American, a German, and a Ukrainian, according to the head of the national investigative police, Luís Neves.
The yellow-and-white tram, Elevador da Gloria, suffered severe damage with its sides and top crumpled after colliding with a building at a bend in the road. Witness accounts described the moment of impact as the tram lost control and crashed violently. A 75-year-old man recounted the terrifying experience of watching the tram careen toward his family before the derailment occurred.
Tourists in the area, including a British couple and an Italian vacationer, expressed shock and disbelief at the tragic event, with one tourist stating they would not ride a funicular again following the incident. Several victims of the crash have been named by local media, including Sandra Coelho, Alda Matias, Ana Lopes, Pedro Trinidade, and the tram’s brakeman, André Marques.
While official details about the crash are still limited, authorities are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the accident that occurred in downtown Lisbon. The initial investigative report is expected to shed more light on the circumstances leading to the tragedy as the community mourns the loss of lives in what has been described as one of the city’s most significant tragedies in recent history.