‘High possibility’ two Canadians dead after Portuguese streetcar crash: Lisbon police

Two Canadians are believed to be among the dead in a fatal streetcar crash in Lisbon. Heather Wright has the latest.

Local police say there’s a “high possibility” that two Canadians are dead after a popular 19th-century streetcar crashed in Portugal’s capital on Wednesday, The Associated Press reports.

The AP has reported that the Portugal’s attorney general’s office said eight victims have been identified so far: five Portuguese, two South Koreans and a Swiss national.

It has also reported that the head of the national investigative police said there is a “high possibility” based on recovered documents and other evidence that the victims also include two Canadians, one American, one German and one Ukrainian.

AP has reported that the head of Lisbon’s Civil Protection Agency said all of the people who died were adults but that the injured include men and women between the ages of 24 and 65, and a three-year-old child.

AP reports that the injured include Portuguese people, as well as two Germans, two Spaniards and one person each from France, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Morocco, South Korea and Cape Verde.

The Canadian Press has reached out to Global Affairs Canada for confirmation.

The department said earlier Thursday that it was aware of two Canadian citizens missing in Lisbon. It said consular officials were in contact with local authorities to gather more information.

The department added that, due to privacy considerations, no further information could be disclosed.

The head of Lisbon’s Civil Protection Agency said 16 people died in the crash, with another 21 people injured.

The agency said early Thursday that 17 people had died in the crash. It later corrected that figure to 16 and blamed the lapse on the duplication of available information.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said in a statement posted to social media that Canada “stands with Portugal.”

“Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected,” Anand said. “We will provide more information as it becomes available.”

Portugal observed a national day of mourning Thursday after the capital’s worst disaster in recent history.

The streetcar, a popular tourist attraction, carries passengers up and down one of the city’s steep hills, past picturesque views.

With files from Nick Murray in Ottawa and The Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 4, 2025

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press