2 Killed, 20 injured as commuter bus crashes into pedestrians near Lisbon railway station

Two women were killed and 20 others injured on Tuesday after a commuter bus lost control and crashed into a pedestrian area near a busy railway station in the municipality of Sintra, on the outskirts of Lisbon.

The accident occurred at about 9:44 a.m. local time on Rua Elias Garcia in the Agualva-Cacém parish, according to Portuguese authorities.

Police said the Carris Metropolitana bus veered into a tunnel used by pedestrians to access the nearby railway station, striking people waiting at a bus stop before coming to a halt.

Superintendent Francisco Alves, police chief for western Sintra, confirmed that the two victims, women aged 30 and 40, died at the scene after being hit by the bus.

The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) said 20 other people sustained injuries, including four who remain in critical condition. The injured were taken to Amadora-Sintra Hospital and Francisco Xavier Hospital for treatment.

Emergency responders deployed 35 personnel and 16 rescue vehicles to the scene as rescue operations got underway.

According to police, many of those who suffered minor injuries were passengers on the bus who had stood up in preparation to disembark when the vehicle lost control.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. While no official conclusion has been reached, preliminary findings suggest the bus may have suffered a braking failure before entering the tunnel.

The driver, who sustained minor injuries, is receiving medical attention and psychological support following the incident. Counselling has also been offered to witnesses affected by the tragedy.

The accident also drew attention to infrastructure concerns in the area. Sintra Mayor Marco Almeida disclosed that the tunnel’s ventilation system had been out of service for years. Emergency officials were forced to reactivate it after exhaust fumes from rescue vehicles accumulated inside the enclosed space during the operation.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, describing the incident as a tragic event.

“It was with great sadness that I learned of the accident in Cacém. I extend my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wish all those injured a speedy recovery,” the prime minister said.

Police said investigations are continuing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the crash.