At least 5 killed, 53 injured in Brazil tourist tram accident

At least five people were killed and 53 were injured when a tourist tram was derailed in Brazil's second largest city of Rio de Janeiro, health and rescue officials reported. The accident occurred in the Santa Teresa neighborhood popular with tourists on Saturday. The tram's roof was ripped off when it overturned and smashed into a stone wall running along the rails. According to preliminary investigation data, the accident occurred when the tram collided with a bus going in the opposite direction. Four people died at the scene, and a fifth passenger died in hospital. Many passengers remained trapped inside the tram until rescuers arrived at the site, witnesses said. Initial reports put the number of those injured at 35. Tram excursions in Santa Teresa are popular among tourists, but are not always safe. In June, another lethal accident occurred when a French tourist who was travelling on the tram's foot board slipped and fell off a 15-meter bridge.