Tributes paid to victims of Lisbon streetcar derailment

Tributes have been paid to a “kind and dedicated” worker on the funicular that derailed and crashed into a building in Lisbon, killing at least 16 people.

- STEFFIE BANATVALA

Andre Jorge Goncalves Marques, a brake guard who worked on the Gloria funicular railway, was yesterday named as one of the victims of the crash in the Portuguese capital that also left 23 people injured.

Other victims named yesterday included former volleyball referee Pedro Manuel Alves Trindade and lawyer Alda Matias.

Carris, the company which operates the funicular, said in a statement that Marques had “performed his duties with excellence” and had been an “outstanding representative” of the company.

“His courage and professionalism, recognised by all, came to a tragic end with the loss of his life in the accident that claimed his life,” they said.

They described him as a “dedicated, kind and smiling” professional who was “always willing to contribute to the greater good”.

Portuguese transport union Sitra also paid tribute to Marques. “We also send our condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the accident and wish them a speedy recovery as well as the best recovery to the others injured in the accident,” the company said in a post on Facebook.

“This is one of the biggest human tragedies of our recent history,” Luís Montenegro, the prime minister, said of the crash, as he revised the death toll to 16 after authorities previously said 17 people had died.