Patriarch Daniel offers condolences and prayers in the wake of Lisbon funicular crash

Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church sent on Thursday a message to Patriarch of Lisbon, Rui Manuel Sousa Valerio, expressing his "deep sorrow" and offering prayers for the healing of those injured in the crash on the city's railway cable car.

"I learned with deep sorrow about the news of the tragic accident that occurred in Lisbon on the evening of Wednesday, September 3. (...) In these moments of grief for the Portuguese people, we pray to Lord Jesus Christ, the Crucified and Risen One, to rest the souls of those who lost their lives in this tragic event and grant a speedy recovery to the injured ones," Patriarch Daniel said, agerpres reports.

Flags were flown at half-mast in Lisbon on Thursday, as Portugal declared a day of mourning after at least 17 people died on Wednesday evening in the accident involving the Gloria funicular railway car, a vintage transport system that is highly popular among tourists, Reuters and EFE report. The city's two other funiculars were shut for inspections.

The initial death toll was 15 - seven men and eight women - but two more people died during the night, EFE reports, citing a spokeswoman for the Civil Protection. Twenty-three people were injured.