Six young Angolan adults, three men and three women, were killed in a fiery car crash near the US Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal, early Sunday morning, Nov. 30, 2025, according to local authorities. The victims, aged between 18 and 21, died when their BMW 520 hit a curb, lost control, and burst into flames on Avenida das Forças Armadas around 3:31 a.m.
Police Commissioner Dinarte Diniz confirmed at the scene that the vehicle had struck a curb on the avenue next to the embassy before the driver lost control, culminating in the fatal crash that triggered a blaze. The incident was witnessed by a police officer assigned to the US Embassy, who immediately contacted emergency services.
By the time authorities arrived on scene, the flames had already ravaged the vehicle and “nothing could be done,” Diniz said. The vehicle was completely burned, making it difficult for investigators to determine crucial details about the moments before impact.
The victims who were first identified were Bruno Balça, 19, the driver, and Luís Garrido, 20, seated in front. Authorities later matched dental records and DNA to four Angolan nationals studying in Lisbon—sisters Flora and Tomasia Moreira, economics student Daniela Morais and engineering freshman Nelson Ferreira.
Vehicle capacity emerged as a significant factor in the investigation. The BMW involved in the crash was a five-seater vehicle, raising questions about how all six occupants were positioned at the time of impact. Reports indicate that four people were squeezed into the back seats of the car, suggesting severe overcrowding.
“The vehicle was completely burned, and it is unclear if seatbelts were used, but given the number of occupants, at least one may not have been wearing one,” Diniz noted during his statement to the media. The overcrowding likely compromised the ability of passengers to properly secure themselves with safety restraints.
The driver became distracted at the wheel before the vehicle veered off course. The car then smashed into a barrier and, within seconds, was engulfed in flames.
The nationalities of the victims were not immediately released by Portuguese authorities. However, Angolan Ambassador Maria de Jesus Ferreira later confirmed that all six victims were Angolan nationals. In a letter of condolence, Ferreira expressed her dismay at learning of the deaths and extended sympathies to the bereaved families.
The ambassador wrote that the young people had “a bright future ahead of them” and expressed solidarity with their families during their moment of immense grief. She conveyed deep condolences on behalf of herself and all staff at the Embassy of the Republic of Angola in Portugal.
The crash site in the Sete-Rios area of Lisbon was closed for cleanup as authorities investigated the circumstances surrounding the accident. The Avenida das Forças Armadas, which translates to Armed Forces Avenue in English, remained blocked to traffic while forensic experts combed through the wreckage and gathered evidence.
The road was reopened by 11 a.m. on Sunday morning, allowing normal traffic flow to resume through the area. The swift reopening suggests authorities were able to complete their initial on-site investigation and remove the charred remains of the vehicle relatively quickly.
The location of the crash, near a major diplomatic facility in Lisbon’s capital, added to the severity of the incident. The proximity to the US Embassy meant that diplomatic security personnel were among the first to respond, though their intervention came too late to prevent the fatalities.
Investigators continue to examine all factors that may have contributed to the crash, including driver distraction, vehicle overcrowding, and the failure to use proper safety restraints. The burned condition of the vehicle has complicated efforts to reconstruct the exact sequence of events leading to the collision.
