Three killed in collapse at venue hosting World Cup opener

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SAO PAULO (AP) — Part of the stadium that will host the2014 World Cup opener in Brazil collapsed
on Wednesday, causingsignificant damage and killing three people, authorities said.Theaccident could delay
the delivery of the stadium in Sao Paulo by FIFA’sDecember deadline to have all 12 venues ready. Work was
immediatelyhalted at the Itaquerao Stadium, which was practically completed beforethe collapse.Television
images showed a huge metal structurebuckled atop the stadium, destroying part of the stands in the east
sideof the venue. A LED panel installed outside the venue also was hit.Firefighterofficial Mauro Lopes said
in a radio interview that at least threepeople died in the accident, which apparently happened when a
cranecollapsed on top of the metal structure. The crane was installing whatwas the last part of the
structure.Some local media quoted authorities saying two people were killed.The accident happened at
lunchtime, so not a lot of workers were on site at the time.Thestadium will seat nearly 70,000 people for
the opener on June 12. Thevenue is scheduled to host other five matches, including a semifinal. Itwas
initially expected to be built for the Confederations Cup thisyear, but delays with financing for the venue
prompted authorities toscrape the stadium from the World Cup warm-up tournament.Brazilian club Corinthians,
which owns the stadium, released a brief statement "lamenting" the accident.Constructor Odebrecht
said it was already investigating what happened.Brazilis running against time to deliver the last six World
Cup stadiums bythe end of the year, although work at the Itaquerao was advancedcompared to the other
venues."FIFA and the LOC have learnt of thedeath of workers at the Corinthian’s Arena site in Sao Paulo
with greatsadness," FIFA said in a statement. "We wish to send our heartfeltcondolences to the
family of the workers who tragically died today."Football’s governing body said the "safety of
workers is the top priority" to World Cup organizers."Weknow the safety of all workers has always
been paramount for all theconstruction companies contracted to build the 12 FIFA World Cupstadiums," it
said in a statement. "The local authorities will fullyinvestigate the reasons behind such a tragic
accident."FIFAPresident Sepp Blatter said he was "deeply saddened by the tragic deathof
workers" at the Corinthians stadium. "Our heartfealt condolences arewith the families," he
said.FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said he was "extremely shocked by the news from Sao
Paulo.""Our thoughts are with the families of the victims of this accident," he
said.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,
rewritten orredistributed.

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