Portugal is in mourning after 16 people died and a further 23 were injured when Lisbon's famous Glória funicular cable railway derailed on Wednesday evening.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro told a news conference on Thursday the number was revised down after emergency services had initially reported a toll of 17. Among the dead are seven men and eight women, Margarida Castro Martins, head of Lisbon's Civil Protection Agency, announced.
Five of those killed were Portuguese, while three Britons, two South Koreans, two Canadians, an American, a Ukrainian, a Swiss, and a French national were also among the victims, according to police.
The identities of the victims are slowly being revealed. André Jorge Gonçalves Marques, who was a brake guard on the funicular, was among the deceased, as stated by the Portuguese transport union Sitra. His colleagues described him as a dedicated and happy professional who leaves behind a wife and two children.
Pedro Manuel Alves Trindade, a former volleyball referee and leader of the Lisbon Volleyball Association, has also been confirmed as a victim. The charity he worked for, Santa Casa da Misericórdia, expressed its sorrow stating that four of its employees died in the accident.
As investigations continue, many survivors report injuries, including a pregnant woman and a child discharged from the hospital after treatment. The crash has prompted a national day of mourning and raised questions about the safety of essential transport for Lisbon's residents and tourists alike.
The repercussions of this tragic event will continue to be felt throughout the community as memorials are planned and support is extended to the families of those affected.
