A tram derailed in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, killing five people and injuring dozens.

The tram came off the rails and skidded down a street before hitting a lamp post, according to reports.

The names of the victims have not yet been released and the cause of the accident is undetermined, but there are claims that the street cars have been neglected and are in a bad condition.

The accident occurred on the historic Santa Teresa line, which connects the city centre with the Santa Teresa neighbourhood.

The tram, which offers panoramic views of the city, is popular with tourists and was named as a national monument in 1988.

Opened in 1896, Rio’s tram is one of the oldest electrical tram systems in South America.

In June, a French tourist was killed on the tram when he fell 50 foot to his death.

Brazil received 5.1 million visitors in 2010, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) – an increase of more than seven per cent on the previous year.

This explosive growth looks set to continue as the destination will stage world sporting events in coming years - Rio de Janeiro will host the 2016 Summer Olympics. To view the city’s attractions, why not visit http://rio.mobi