Eyewitness describes what happened immediately after popular tourist attraction in Portugal crashed leaving 15 dead

An eyewitness has given their account of what happened after Lisbon's Gloria Funicular derailed on Wednesday (3 September), leaving 15 people dead.

As well as the fatalities, a further 18 people were injured, including one child, the National Institute for Medical Emergencies said in a statement - five of which are in a serious condition.

The funicular carriage, which is a popular tourist attraction, derailed in the Portuguese capital at about 6pm, the Portuguese president’s office said.

Authorities have called it the worst accident in the city’s recent history, and as of right now it's unknown how many of the people dead and injured are Portuguese and how many are foreigners.

While it's too early to determine the cause of the crash, as per the BBC, a police investigation has been launched and witnesses are coming forward to describe what they saw.

Eyewitnesses are coming forward following Lisbon's tram crash on Wednesday (PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

The Portuguese newspaper Observador has reported that a cable came loose along the railway's route, causing it to lose control, however, this is yet to be confirmed by authorities.

Eyewitnesses also told local news that the landmark funicular careered down the hill, apparently out of control.

One witness explained how the emergency services were quick to respond to the scene, adding that 'a lot of people appeared to be unconscious'.

They said: "The police took less than five minutes to arrive and told us to get back and the first ambulances started arriving five minutes later.

"One of the victims I saw was cut all over the place and covered in blood. A lot of people appeared to be unconscious."

Meanwhile, other eyewitnesses told Observador that the carriage seemed to be 'out of control, without breaks'.

Teresa d'Avó recalled: "We all started running away because we thought [the carriage] was going to hit the one below. But it fell around the bend and crashed into a building."

Another eyewitness told a Portuguese TV channel, SIC, that the carriage hit a building as it sped down the street 'at full speed'.

They claimed: "It hit a building with brutal force and collapsed like a cardboard box; it had no brakes."

An investigation has been launched to determine why the tragedy occurred (PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/Getty Images)

Carris, the company that operates the funicular, said scheduled maintenance had been carried out.

Following the tragedy, Portugal’s government has announced that a day of national mourning would be observed today (4 September).

In a statement, it said: "A tragic accident … caused the irreparable loss of human life, which left in mourning their families and dismayed the whole country."

And elsewhere, Lisbon's Mayor Carlos Moedas told reporters at the scene that the city was in mourning.

He said: "This was a tragic accident … It’s a tragedy of the like we’ve never seen."

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has also offered his condolence to affected families.

Exactly how the crash occurred and who was on board are details that are yet to be released as the investigation gets underway.

The funicular, known as the Elevador da Gloria, can carry more than 40 people, seated and standing - it is commonly used by Lisbon residents and is classed as a national monument.