A railway accident struck the Portuguese capital at the height of the holiday season, as Lisbon’s famous Elevador da Glória funicular derailed. According to emergency services, at least 17 people have died and 23 more were injured.

Local media report that the traction cable snapped, sending the carriage hurtling down the steep incline “at full speed.” A witness told broadcaster SIC that the funicular had “no brakes,” while another eyewitness described to Sapo that “the carriage slammed into a building and shattered like a cardboard box. The impact was tremendous.”

Lisbon authorities suspended operations of the city’s other funiculars, Bica and Lavra, pending safety inspections. Rescue teams worked for several hours to extract victims from the wreckage, with officials warning that the death toll may rise. Among the injured are foreign nationals, including two Spaniards and three Germans.

Built in 1885, the Glória funicular is one of Lisbon’s oldest transport icons. With a capacity for more than 40 passengers, the line is classified as a national monument and remains a beloved attraction for both locals and tourists.