Lisbon Demands Justice: Community Grieves After Tragic Streetcar Crash Claims 16 Lives

António Azevedo was in Lisbon one evening, waiting for tourists to hop into his tuk-tuk. Suddenly, he heard a loud crash, like glass shattering. Curious, he looked around Restauradores Square but saw no trucks—just smoke rising from the Elevador da Glória funicular railway, not far from him.

Azevedo and nearby business owners rushed to the scene. They quickly realized that one of the trams had derailed and crashed into a building on Avenida da Liberdade, a major street in Lisbon. The chaos was overwhelming. Azevedo and others scrambled to help, picking up debris and trying to lift parts of the tram, fearing someone might be trapped underneath.

He recalled holding a bleeding boy who cried for his dad. Then the police and firefighters arrived, urging them to stop moving anything. “The cries turned into silence,” Azevedo said. “I had never seen anything like it.”

As night fell, the reality set in—16 people lost their lives, and 21 were injured. Flowers and candles filled the site by the next morning, honoring those who had died. Among the victims were people from multiple countries, including Portugal, South Korea, and Switzerland.

The community grieved, and conversations about what went wrong began. Argentina Pereira, now 80, remembered when the funicular was a different ride, accommodating fewer passengers. “Back then, we had 20 people max. Now, they allow over 40. That feels risky,” she shared.

Azevedo expressed his concern about safety, saying cities with high tourist traffic need to prioritize infrastructure checks. Although the transport company, Carris, claimed all maintenance protocols were followed, some tourists had noticed issues. An Australian traveler, John Heron, felt the funicular looked unsafe during his recent visit. He shared, “In Australia, we have stricter regulations.”

Meanwhile, a Spanish tourist, Cristián Morgado, had been set to ride the same tram that day. He and his partner decided to go earlier, narrowly avoiding the tragedy. “It could have been us,” said Soraya Navarro, reflecting on the incident.

Despite the crash, many believe tourism in Lisbon will remain strong. Morgado mentioned that similar incidents in Spain haven’t deterred travelers. “In a few weeks, people will move on,” he said.

This tragic event highlights a critical conversation around public safety and tourism. The funicular has been under increasing pressure due to rising visitor numbers, making regular inspections even more essential. In a bustling city like Lisbon, ensuring safe transport for countless tourists is not just important; it’s a responsibility that can’t be overlooked.

For more on Lisbon’s public transportation and its history, you can visit this informative piece.

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