At least 16 people have been killed and 21 injured after a funicular railway in Lisbon derailed on Wednesday.
Portuguese authorities have identified the American who was killed in a funicular crash near Lisbon earlier this week.
Dr. Heather Hall, an instructor at the College of Charleston, was visiting Portugal to speak at a conference when she rode the iconic Glória Funicular on Wednesday. Hall’s death was confirmed by Fran Welch, dean of the college’s School of Education, where Hall taught courses in the Department of Teacher Education.The Context
At least 16 people were killed and 21 were injured after the funicular derailed during the evening rush hour on Wednesday and crashed into a building. The Ascensor da Glória connected Lisbon’s Praça dos Restauradores with the Bairro Alto district since 1885.
Emergency crews—including police, firefighters, and paramedics—rushed to the scene, deploying 62 rescuers and 22 vehicles to assist survivors trapped in the wreckage, according to local media reports.
The victims include five Portuguese citizens, three Britons, two Canadians, two South Koreans, one Swiss, one French citizen, and one Ukrainian.What To Know
Welch said Hall’s death is a profound loss to the institution. «This is a tragic loss for all of us», Welch said, according to local news station WCIV. «As an alumna of the College (’97) and a dynamic instructor with a specialization in special education, she shared her love of travel with her students.»
The dean’s statement also noted that Hall had been a Fulbright Scholar in Ghana and had led study abroad trips to Italy.
