“The GPIAAF will open an investigation into the accident, but due to limited [human] resources in the railway sector, evidence collection at the site will only begin tomorrow morning [Thursday],” a source from this public body stated to the Lusa agency.
A source from the railway sector informed Lusa that since August 2023, the GPIAAF has had only one investigator for this sector.
According to the same source, since March of this year, this body has been waiting for the Ministry of Finance to approve the hiring of a second investigator.
The PSP confirms the presence of fatalities in the derailment of the Glória funicular in Lisbon late this afternoon but does not specify the number of deaths.
In a note, the President of the Republic “deeply regrets the accident that occurred this afternoon with the Glória funicular in Lisbon, particularly the fatalities and those severely injured, as well as the several minor injuries.”
The Glória funicular in Lisbon derailed this afternoon at 18:04 on the Calçada da Glória.
Half an hour later, in statements to Lusa, the municipal director of Civil Protection, Margarida Castro Martins, reported that 20 people were involved, with two critically injured, five with minor injuries, and several trapped.
According to the page of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection, as of 19:30, there were 62 personnel and 22 vehicles on site.
The Glória funicular is operated by Carris, connecting Restauradores to the São Pedro de Alcântara Garden in Bairro Alto along a route of approximately 265 meters, and is very popular among tourists.
