16 die in Portuguese capital as historic tram crashes

Lisbon authorities on Thursday opened an investigation into a deadly accident involving one of the city’s well-known electric streetcars. One of the cars in the hilly Portuguese capital on Wednesday left its track and crashed into a building. The tram is part of Lisbon’s iconic Elevador da Gloria funicular system that transports passengers up and down the city’s steep streets. At least 16 people died and 21 were injured in the crash, according to media reports. The tram operator CARRIS on Wednesday identified the streetcar driver, Andre Marques, as one of the victims killed in the accident. Officials declared three days of official mourning and temporarily halted operations on all the funicular lines for inspection. An investigation into what caused the crash was ongoing Thursday morning.

What is the history of the tram system? Opened in 1885, the Gloria Funicular is one of three such lines in Lisbon. Officials electrified the system in 1915 and later designated it as a national monument in 1997. It has become a tourist attraction as well as a popular mode of transportation between two of the city’s busiest districts. 

Dig deeper: Read my report about a plane crash in India that killed 260 people earlier this year.