OR Portugal mourns after the derailment and crushing of his wagon tram Elevador da glória to Lisbonwhich claimed the lives of 17 people, with several injured still in critical condition. The accident It took place on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after 6, at peak time.

Eyewitnesses described panic scenes, as the wagon went down the downhill at high speed before colliding in a building on the road. Foreign nationals are among the victims, but their identities and ethnicities have not been known.

One of Lisbon’s most well -known attractions with a history of 140 years

The Elevador da glóriawith the characteristics of yellow and white wagons, it is one of Lisbon’s most famous attractions. It operated for the first time in 1885 and was powered in 1915, and today it manages by the Municipal Transport Company Carris. The system is based on two wagons moving parallel, tied with steel cables: the weight of one that descends pulls the other upwards.

A characterized national monument, the tram carries about 3 million passengers each year. The short but abrupt 260 -meter path connects the square Retarants With the historical district Bairo Altoknown for her intense nightlife.

Despite its tourist character, Elevador da Glória is used daily by residents, who trust it to deal with the capital’s steep uphill.

The president of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Souzahe expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. The Mayor of Lisbon, Carlosdeclared the city in mourning, stating: “This is a tragedy as we have never seen before.”