Tragedy as 6 youngsters killed after car crashes and bursts into flames | World | News

Six young people have been killed after the car they were travelling in crashed and burst into flames. The incident unfolded in Lisbon, Portugal, this morning when a vehicle caught fire on Avenida das Forças Armadas, next to the United States Embassy.

Firefighters and responders from the Institute of Legal Medicine arrived on scene at around 3.40am, but sadly could not save the passengers. Three boys and three girls aged between 18 and 20 were killed, and little remained of the BMW they were travelling in. 

The Public Security Police (PSP) said the BMW “went off the road, hit a pillar and caught fire”.

An officer on duty at the US Embassy reportedly witnessed the crash and called the police, according to RTP.

Local media has also reported that the driver was 19 and at least one person in the car was not wearing a seatbelt.

Clean up and investigation work by authorities continued into the morning, with Avenida das Forças Armadas closed to traffic until after 11am.

Officials are still trying to identify the victims after their belongings were destroyed in the fire.