Three Brits amongst 16 who have died in Lisbon tram crash
Three British nationals are among the 16 who have died in the Lisbon funicular crash according to Portuguese police.
A popular tourist attraction, the iconic, 140-year-old Gloria funicular derailed and crashed into a building at around 6pm on Wednesday (3 September).
Five people from Portugal, two from South Korea, one person from Switzerland and others from the US, France, Ukraine, and Canada are also believed to be among the dead.
All but one of them were declared dead at the scene, with the other dying in hospital. There is not yet any further details about the three Brits and Brakeman Andrew Marques is the only person to have been identified in the deaths so far.
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The crash also left more than 20 people injured, with five reported to be in a critical condition.
According to Portugal's Civil Protection Authority, they include 12 women, seven men and a three-year-old child.
They are made up of three people from Portugal, as well as others from Cape Verde, Canada, France, Italy, Morocco, South Korea, Spain and Switzerland.
An urgent investigation is currently under way with it not known what caused the deadly crash as Lisbon's public transport operator, Carris, said all funiculars would be inspected.
Horror footage of the incident showed onlookers rushing to free those trapped under the debris with one chillingly shouting out: "There are kids under the tram!"
Emergency workers could be seen pulling people from the wreckage as two of the carriages were pretty much destroyed. An overturned, crumpled up carriage can be seen laying on the cobblestone street as investigators sift through the debris to find a potential cause.
Three days of mourning were declared for the victims as the city's mayor, Carlos Moedas, said: "It's a tragic day for our city... Lisbon is in mourning, it is a tragic, tragic incident."
Portugal's Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, said the crash was 'one of the biggest human tragedies of our recent history' and the country observed a national day of mourning yesterday.
The Gloria funicular is very popular with tourists visiting the Portuguese capital as well as being used by residents.
It makes a three-minute journey between Restauradores Square in downtown Lisbon and the Bairro Alto neighbourhood, climbing up a steep hill.
It's believed the funicular was at full capacity as rush hour began in the evening when it's reported the top carriage hurtled down the hill, derailed and crashed into a building 30 metres from the bottom.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told LADbible: "We are supporting the families of three British nationals who have died following an incident in Lisbon and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Jess Battison