Maafa nchi Brazil uwanja wa kombe la dunia waanguka na kuua.

Three workers have been confirmed dead after part of the stadium that is due to host the opening game of the 2014 World Cup in Sao Paulo, Brazil collapsed.

The stadium, which was scheduled to be finished in the next month or so, is to be the site of the opening game and five other matches when Brazil hosts the 2014 World Cup in June and July.

Disaster: The damage done by the crane is shown by the local news in Sao Paulo

ITAQUERAO STADIUM

Location: Sao Paulo
Club: Corinthians
World Cup capacity: 65,000
Post World Cup capacity: 48,234
Games hosting: Four group, one round of 16, one semi-final
Construction cost: £218.1million
Planned completion date: March 2013
Peak workers on site: 2,300 (Nov 2012)
Architect: Anibal Coutinho
First match: January 21, 2014

A spokeswoman for the Sao Paulo state military police confirmed the deaths.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter tweeted after hearing the news: 'I'm deeply saddened by the tragic death of workers @Corinthians arena today. Our heartfelt condolences are with the families.'

Brazil has struggled to deliver stadiums, public transportation improvements and other World Cup-related projects within the timelines specified by FIFA. Some construction sites, such as a new terminal at Sao Paulo's international airport, are being built around the clock seven days a week to try to finish them before the Cup.

The Sao Paulo stadium, formally called Arena Corinthians but known locally as 'Itaquerao', is being built by Brazilian industrial conglomerate Odebrecht SA, which recently said the arena was 94 per cent complete.

Behind schedule: The stadium was supposed to be completed in March 2013

Photos taken by local media appeared to show significant damage caused by the fallen crane to the outside of the stadium. It was not immediately clear if the damage could pose a major delay to opening the stadium.
A spokeswoman for Odebrecht declined immediate comment. Corinthians, the Sao Paulo club that will play in the stadium after the World Cup, lamented the accident in a short statement but declined further comment.

New build: Part of the Itaquerao Stadium has collapsed - this picture was taken in September

Race against time: The stadium back in May workers aim to meet FIFA's December deadline

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke added: 'Extremely shocked by the news from Sao Paulo. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims of this accident.
'We are currently awaiting further details from the authorities, who are investigating this tragic accident.'
FIFA are preparing an official statement on the events that occurred at lunchtime in Brazil.

Nearly complete: The Itaquerao Stadium as it looked last week