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| Overpass in Brazil's World Cup host city collapses on to vehicles below | Overpass in Brazil's World Cup host city collapses on to vehicles below |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| An unfinished overpass collapsed in the Brazilian World Cup host city of Belo Horizonte on Thursday, killing at least two people, emergency officials said. | An unfinished overpass collapsed in the Brazilian World Cup host city of Belo Horizonte on Thursday, killing at least two people, emergency officials said. |
| Television images showed the front of a passenger bus crushed by the overpass, which was located about two miles (3 km) from the Mineirão Stadium where World Cup games are being played. Other vehicles were also crushed underneath the wreckage. | Television images showed the front of a passenger bus crushed by the overpass, which was located about two miles (3 km) from the Mineirão Stadium where World Cup games are being played. Other vehicles were also crushed underneath the wreckage. |
| Two people died and 19 were injured, a spokeswoman for the Minas Gerais state health department told Reuters on Thursday. The mayor's office put the injury toll at 22. A fire department spokesman said there was still one person trapped in a car, and possibly others. | Two people died and 19 were injured, a spokeswoman for the Minas Gerais state health department told Reuters on Thursday. The mayor's office put the injury toll at 22. A fire department spokesman said there was still one person trapped in a car, and possibly others. |
| Renata Soares, who said she was on the bus at the moment of the accident, told GloboNews TV: "We were travelling normally and then there was a terrible noise. I am sure that more people in other cars were underneath the debris." | Renata Soares, who said she was on the bus at the moment of the accident, told GloboNews TV: "We were travelling normally and then there was a terrible noise. I am sure that more people in other cars were underneath the debris." |
| GloboNews TV showed video of bloodied passengers of the bus staggering away from the wreckage, screaming. Later, pictures near the scene showed people holding signs that said, "This is the reality of the Cup" and "World Cup disaster: put it on Fifa's bill." | GloboNews TV showed video of bloodied passengers of the bus staggering away from the wreckage, screaming. Later, pictures near the scene showed people holding signs that said, "This is the reality of the Cup" and "World Cup disaster: put it on Fifa's bill." |
| "This is the incompetence of our authorities and our businesses," said Leandro Brito, 23, a bank worker. "Because of the World Cup they sped everything up to finish faster. That's why this tragedy has happened. They are not making things properly. Everyone is very angry." | "This is the incompetence of our authorities and our businesses," said Leandro Brito, 23, a bank worker. "Because of the World Cup they sped everything up to finish faster. That's why this tragedy has happened. They are not making things properly. Everyone is very angry." |
| Brazil's president, Dilma Rousseff, offered her government's assistance to local authorities if needed. | Brazil's president, Dilma Rousseff, offered her government's assistance to local authorities if needed. |
| "In this moment of pain, I offer my solidarity to the families of the victims," she said on Twitter. | "In this moment of pain, I offer my solidarity to the families of the victims," she said on Twitter. |
| Work on the network of bus corridors began in 2010 and was supposed to finish in May. Some portions of the network are running, but long stretches are still under construction. | Work on the network of bus corridors began in 2010 and was supposed to finish in May. Some portions of the network are running, but long stretches are still under construction. |
| The cause of the accident, the worst since the month-long tournament began on 12 June, was unclear and no workers were known to be on the overpass when it fell. | The cause of the accident, the worst since the month-long tournament began on 12 June, was unclear and no workers were known to be on the overpass when it fell. |
| Rescue operations continued under floodlights, and officials had not been able to reach one of the trapped cars. | Rescue operations continued under floodlights, and officials had not been able to reach one of the trapped cars. |
| "We cannot reach the vehicle; we don't know how many victims there are and there could still be someone alive," Estevo said. | "We cannot reach the vehicle; we don't know how many victims there are and there could still be someone alive," Estevo said. |
| A World Cup semi-final will be held in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday. The stadium has already hosted five games. | A World Cup semi-final will be held in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday. The stadium has already hosted five games. |
| After Brazil was awarded the World Cup in 2007, politicians promised $8bn (£4.7bn) would be spent on 56 airports, subway lines and other such projects nationwide. | After Brazil was awarded the World Cup in 2007, politicians promised $8bn (£4.7bn) would be spent on 56 airports, subway lines and other such projects nationwide. |
| But fewer than 10 of the infrastructure projects were opened in time for the tournament. | |
| Last month, a worker died after a 90-tonne beam fell during the construction of a monorail train project in São Paulo. | Last month, a worker died after a 90-tonne beam fell during the construction of a monorail train project in São Paulo. |
| The heavy government spending on the World Cup and long delays in infrastructure projects have spurred violent street protests in Brazil over the past year, although they have died down in recent weeks. | The heavy government spending on the World Cup and long delays in infrastructure projects have spurred violent street protests in Brazil over the past year, although they have died down in recent weeks. |