The PC was notified, as was the Public Prosecutor's Office. "It's a tragedy, Lisbon is in mourning, this has never happened in our city before," says Carlos Moedas.
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The Glória elevator, which connects Restauradores to Jardim de São Pedro de Alcântara in Lisbon, derailed this Wednesday in an accident that killed at least 15 people, an official PSP source said. The cause remains to be determined.The accident also injured 18 people.
Speaking at the scene, a source from INEM (National Institute of Emergency Medicine) said that five of the injured are in serious condition. CNN Portugal learned that one of the 18 injured is a three-year-old boy, who is not in serious condition.
At least seven of the injured were taken to São José Hospital, an official source said. Santa Maria Hospital and São Francisco Xavier Hospital also received injured people. The nationalities of the victims are not yet known.
CNN Portugal understands that the Judiciary Police's Homicide Squad has been called in to investigate the causes of the accident and that the Public Prosecutor's Office will open an inquiry into the incident at the Lisbon Police Department (DIAP). Meanwhile, the government has decided to declare national mourning, which is observed this Thursday. The Lisbon City Council had already decided to declare three days of municipal mourning.
Carris has already responded and guarantees that
"all maintenance protocols were carried out and respected, including general maintenance, which occurs every four years, and that interim repairs, which are carried out every two years, took place in 2022, with the last one being carried out in 2024."
The company states that "monthly and weekly maintenance programs and daily inspections have been scrupulously followed" and adds that it "immediately opened an investigation, in conjunction with the authorities, to determine the true causes of this accident.
"Carris president Pedro Bogas made brief statements to reporters afterward. "The maintenance protocol was scrupulously followed. A third-party company has performed this maintenance for 14 years," he said.The Elevador da Glória, capable of carrying up to 42 people, is one of Lisbon's icons and is popular with tourists visiting the city.
Marcelo called for a swift investigation into the causes of the fatal accident, and the Government says that "investigations" will be carried out "in due course.
"The Government issued a statement this Wednesday stating that "the immediate priority" is "assistance to the victims." "The competent authorities will carry out the necessary investigations in due course to determine the causes of this unfortunate accident," the Government stated.
This statement comes minutes after Marcelo published a note on the Presidency's website, in which he requested that the "occurrence" at the Elevador da Glória "be quickly clarified by the competent authorities." Marcelo also expressed "his condolences and solidarity" with the "families affected by this tragedy."
Returning to the Government: the Government notes that "from the outset, it has been monitoring the situation and the response of the various public medical emergency authorities, health units, civil protection, security forces, and transportation, to whom instructions have been given to provide all necessary support." "The Government is also in constant contact and close coordination with the City Council."
The statement also states that "the Government and the Prime Minister deeply regret the accident that occurred this afternoon in the Glória elevator in Lisbon and express their deep consternation and solidarity with the victims and their families.
"Meanwhile, on X and in Portuguese,
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, expressed her "sadness." "It is with sadness that I learned of the derailment of the famous 'Glória Elevator.' My condolences go out to the families of the victims," the leader said.
"A tragedy"To reporters, Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas spoke of a "tragic day" for Lisbon. "It's a very difficult day for all of us," the mayor said, extending his condolences to the families of the victims. "Lisbon is in mourning; it's a tragic moment for our city."
Moedas praised the response of the Lisbon Fire Department, who received "the alarm at 6:08 PM and were here [at the scene of the accident] at 6:11 PM." "Unfortunately, it's extremely serious. It's an accident that shouldn't have happened."The Lisbon City Council declared three days of municipal mourning.
Also noteworthy: the Aircraft and Railway Accident Prevention and Investigation Office (GPIAAF) told Lusa News Agency that it will open an investigation into the derailment, but:
Due to limited [human] resources in the railway area, it will only begin collecting evidence at the site tomorrow morning [Thursday]," said a source from this public agency.