Fabiana Pavel, an Italian, who is president of the Bairro Alto Residents' Association, told the BBC that the accident may have been caused by the pressure of tourism.

A Lisbon streetcar, one of the city’s major tourist attractions, derailed on Wednesday, leaving 15 dead and 18 injured.

Distressing footage captured the chaotic scenes just moments after Lisbon's famous Gloria Funicular derailed, killing 15 people and injuring 23 more.

Foreigners among dead after carriage derailed and crashed into a hotel

Witnesses said the streetcar came careening down its course before derailing on the curved Rua da Gloria just after 6pm.

Fabiana Pavel, an Italian, who is president of the Bairro Alto Residents' Association, told the BBC that the accident may have been caused by the pressure of tourism.

The famous yellow and white Elevador da Gloria was filled with locals and international tourists when it came off its rails and crashed into a hotel corner building, killing 16…