Portugal observed a day of national mourning yesterday as the death toll in the Lisbon funicular derailment climbed to 16, while some 21 remain hospitalized, state news agency Lusa reported, citing the head of Lisbon's civil protection authority.
Early findings suggest the cause was damage to the cable that pulls the historic funicular railway, Elevador da Gloria, up the steep street and brakes it on the descent.
After derailing, the railway crashed into a building. An eyewitness told the state Portuguese TV channel RTP that the car sped downhill, crashed into a building and "collapsed like a cardboard box."
The identities and nationalities of most victims remain unknown, though the German Foreign Office said German nationals are among those affected.
"Unfortunately, we must assume that German citizens are among those affected. There are currently no reliable figures on the number," the Foreign Office told Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) in response to an inquiry.
