BRAZIL: A crane collapses at the construction site of Sao Paulo's World Cup stadium killing two workers, but the operational manager at the site says the structure remains sound

Record ID: 644480

  • Title: BRAZIL: A crane collapses at the construction site of Sao Paulo's World Cup stadium killing two workers, but the operational manager at the site says the structure remains sound
  • Date: 27th November 2013
  • Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (NOVEMBER 27, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THE DAMAGED CORINTHIANS STADIUM HELICOPTER FLYING OVER STADIUM VARIOUS OF THE STADIUM RETIRED MAN WHO WITNESSED THE CRANE COLLAPSE, JOSE DA SILVA, DURING INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) RETIRED MAN WHO WITNESSED THE CRANE COLLAPSE, JOSE DA SILVA, SAYING: "It was lifting it and the piece went back and took the crane with it and the whole thing fell. We always come to watch because this was the last part and we follow it (the progress) on the Internet. All of a sudden it was a ball of things and the whole crane came down. It hurts. Wow." NEWS CONFERENCE AT THE DAMAGED STADIUM OPERATIONAL MANAGER AT THE SITE FOR THE ODEBRECHT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, FREDERICO BARBOSA, DURING NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAS FILMING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) OPERATIONAL MANAGER AT THE SITE FOR THE ODEBRECHT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, FREDERICO BARBOSA, SAYING: "The structure was not compromised. There was damage to part of the building, but nothing that compromises the security or stability of the structure itself. " VARIOUS OF THE DAMAGED STADIUM AND PEOPLE IN THE AREA
  • Embargoed: 12th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAMUUV9UHCPHZK04E9PZC1RADM
  • Story Text: Two workers were killed on Wednesday (November 27) when a crane collapsed at the stadium slated to host the opening match of next year's World Cup of soccer, causing damage to the exterior and renewing questions about whether Brazil will be ready to host the event on time.
    Construction workers had been racing to finish the stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil's biggest city, prior to a December deadline imposed by world soccer body FIFA.
    The incident casts yet another shadow over Brazil's preparations for the World Cup, which have been plagued by delays, accidents, cost overruns, and public anger over government waste that contributed to massive nationwide street protests last year.
    Jose da Silva said he came out to watch one of the final pieces of the stadium's roof get put into place when all of a sudden the crane came crashing down.

    "It was lifting it and the piece went back and took the crane with it and the whole thing fell. We always come to watch because this was the last part and we follow it (the progress) on the Internet. All of a sudden it was a ball of things and the whole crane came down. It hurts. Wow," da Silva said.
    Odebrecht SA, the industrial conglomerate building the stadium, said it planned to restart work at the site on Monday (December 2), but the union representing the workers said construction could be frozen for up to 30 days while authorities investigate.
    Frederico Barbosa, operational manager at the site for Odebrecht, said the stadium did not suffer structural damage.

    "The structure was not compromised. There was damage to part of the building, but nothing that compromises the security or stability of the structure itself," Barbosa said.
    A statement by the Corinthians football club, which will play in the facility after the Cup, said the piece of roof fell on top of the concourse area on the eastern side of the stadium, "partially hitting the facade."
    The S� Paulo stadium, formally called Arena Corinthians but known locally as Itaquer� for the area where it is located, was 94 percent complete at the time of the accident, according to the stadium's website.
    The facility is due to host the Cup's opening match on June 12 next year.
    Workers have now been killed at three World Cup stadiums - in Sao Paulo, Brasilia, and Manaus.
    Officials have expressed worries about facilities in Manaus and Cuiab�being ready by a December deadline, and Wednesday's accident seems likely to delay Sao Paulo as well, though it's unclear for how long.
    It was not clear if the damage would pose a major delay to opening the stadium.
    Delays surrounding the World Cup have extended well beyond stadiums. Numerous public transportation projects have been canceled or shelved, and workers have toiled 24 hours a day, seven days a week to finish a new terminal at Sao Paulo's international airport on time.
    The accident also casts further scrutiny on Brazil's building standards after a death and injuries in construction projects earlier this year.
    The Itaquer� stadium, on the gritty east side of Sao Paulo, was originally budgeted at 350 million reais ($152.2 million) but that shot up to over 1 billion reais after local authorities decided to hold the prestigious opening match there.
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