Portuguese police confirm two Canadians dead in Lisbon funicular crash

Police say two Canadians are among the 16 dead in Lisbon

Tragedy struck in Lisbon as a funicular derailed in the Portuguese capital, resulting in the death of 16 individuals, including two Canadians. The Associated Press reported that the victims also included five Portuguese nationals, three British citizens, two South Koreans, one American, one French, one Swiss, and one Ukrainian.

Forensic identification confirmed the nationalities of the deceased, with the French Foreign Ministry revealing that a French-Canadian dual citizen was among those who lost their lives in the accident.

Preliminary Technical Report Expected

The Portuguese government’s Office for Air and Rail Accident Investigations has completed its analysis of the wreckage and is set to release a preliminary technical report on Friday. The contents of the report remain unknown at this time.

Tourists Among Victims

The incident raised concerns as it was revealed that the funicular, known as the Elevador da Gloria, was carrying a mix of tourists and locals during the evening rush hour. With Lisbon attracting millions of tourists annually, the funicular is a popular attraction for those looking to enjoy a scenic ride up and down the city street.

The funicular, which is powered by steel cables and can accommodate over 40 passengers, suffered a catastrophic failure on Wednesday. Authorities inspected the wreckage and retrieved cables from beneath the rails that ascend one of Lisbon’s steep hills.

Investigation Ongoing

Officials refrained from speculating on the cause of the accident, whether it was due to a faulty brake or a snapped cable. The tragic event has prompted authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the funicular derailment.

With files from The Associated Press