Sonia Silva prepared to leave work on Wednesday evening but was asked by a colleague to help with a quick task. This decision meant she missed her regular funicular ride down the hill with her work friend before tragedy struck.
Upon arriving at the stop shortly after, she discovered that the Glória funicular, an iconic 140-year-old transportation system, had derailed and crashed into a building, resulting in the death of her friend and 15 others.
When I got there, it was a tragedy, said Sonia, overwhelmed with grief.
As mourners gathered to pay respects, it was revealed that among the 16 fatalities were three British nationals and five Portuguese citizens, four of whom were employees of a local charity. The Prime Minister described this incident as one of the largest tragedies in recent Portuguese history.
A memorial service was held in honor of the victims as the community came together to mourn. Sonia's emotions reflect the confusion and anger shared by many colleagues at the charity—workers who regularly used the funicular.
I can't express how I feel. I'm grateful but at the same time I'm very angry because my colleagues and many others died, Sonia noted through her tears.
As investigations begin to identify the cause of the crash—with speculation regarding overcrowding and maintenance issues—Sonia expressed a deep reluctance to use the funicular again, highlighting the chilling effect of the tragedy on their daily commute.
The community continues to grapple with the aftermath of this devastating event as they work to memorialize their lost friends while questioning how such an accident could occur.
