This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/14/worker-dies-fall-manaus-world-cup-stadium-brazil

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Worker dies in fall at Manaus World Cup stadium Worker dies in fall at Manaus World Cup stadium
(about 7 hours later)
A construction worker died in Brazil early on Saturday morning after falling off the roof of a stadium in the Amazon jungle, adding to safety concerns as the country races to finish building in time to host the 2014 World Cup. A construction worker has fallen to his death from the roof of a World Cup stadium being built in the jungle city of Manaus, marking the latest setback to hit Brazil before it hosts football's showcase event next year.
Marcleudo de Melo Ferreira, 22, died in a hospital in Manaus at around 4am, according to the local forensic centre. He fell nearly 35 metres (115 feet) after a cable at the Arena Amazônia broke. It was the second death at the Arena Amazonia in less than a year, and the third fatality in a World Cup stadium in less than a month.
"Fifa and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) learnt of the death of the worker on Saturday at the Arena Amazônia site with great sadness," read a statement. "We would like to send our most sincere condolences to his family, relatives, colleagues and friends." Two workers were killed in late November when a crane collapsed as it was hoisting a 500-tonne piece of roofing at the Sao Paulo stadium that will host the tournament's 12 June opener. Last year, a worker died at the construction site of the stadium in the nation's capital, Brasilia.
Workers had already been killed at three of Brazil's 12 World Cup stadiums. Fatal accidents have occurred in Manaus, Brasilia and most recently in São Paulo, where two people died on 27 November after a crane collapsed in the arena that is to host the opening game on 12 June. Another worker died in April at the new Palmeiras stadium, which may be used for teams training for games in Sao Paulo.
Preparations for the World Cup have also been plagued by delays, accidents, cost overruns, and public anger over government waste that contributed to massive nationwide street protests last year. Brazil had already made headlines a week ago because of fan violence in the final round of the Brazilian league, and again earlier this month after World Cup organisers announced that none of the six stadiums that had to be finalised by the end of the year would be delivered on time.
Andrade Gutierrez, the Brazilian firm building the Amazon stadium, said in a statement that Ferreira worked for a company that had been contracted to build the arena's cover and an internal investigation of the incident would be conducted. Andrade Gutierrez, the construction company building the Arena Amazonia, said in a statement that 22-year-old Marcleudo de Melo Ferreira fell some 115ft (35 metres) in the accident that happened early on Saturday morning – the second fatality at the venue since construction began in 2010. Another man died there in March.
Manaus will host four games, including high-profile encounters involving teams from England, Italy, USA and Portugal. The stadium will host four World Cup matches, beginning with England v Italy on 14 June. It will also host the United States v Portugal on 22 June.
Most teams were hoping to avoid playing in Manaus because of humid and hot conditions in the jungle city, as well as the increased travel distance. After complaints from England coach Roy Hodgson before the World Cup draw earlier this month, Manaus Mayor Arthur Virgilio said he hoped "to get a better team and a coach who is more sensible and polite".
When the Associated Press visited the stadium this week, workers were installing diamond shaped panels to the latticework of steel girders that form part of the stadium roof. Dozens of laborers were balanced on the girders as they worked. When complete, the panels on the roof are meant to resemble snake scales.
Andrade Gutierrez said the causes of the accident would be investigated but reiterated its commitment to worker safety.
The local World Cup organising committee said work on the Manaus stadium was halted for a period of mourning and will resume on Sunday.
"FIFA and the local organising committee (LOC) learned of the death of the worker on Saturday at the Arena Amazonia site with great sadness," World Cup organisers said in a statement. "We would like to send our most sincere condolences to his family, relatives, colleagues and friends."
Manaus officials said they aim to hold the first match to test the stadium on 15 January, with the 10,000 or so workers who participated in the stadium's construction serving as spectators. Delays in the unblocking of federal financing for the venue slowed construction, causing FIFA to push back its original December deadline for stadium delivery.
After the deaths in Sao Paulo in late November, FIFA said "the safety of workers is the top priority" for football's governing body and local organizers.
In early October, a Brazilian labour judge halted work at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba for nearly a week because of safety concerns.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.