What's new

Tragedy in Brazil - 8 fans killed

Archibald&Crooks

Aegina Expat
Admin
Feb 1, 2005
55,533
204,721
At least eight people have died after part of a stadium in north-eastern Brazil collapsed towards the end of a football match, police say.

A number of people fell through a gaping hole in one of the highest areas of the stands at the Fonte Nova stadium in the city of Salvador in Bahia.

Fans were celebrating the promotion of their team to the second division.
Salvador is a candidate to stage matches at the 2014 World Cup, awarded last month to Brazil.

Wild celebrations The accident at the Fonte Nova stadium happened when an elevated section of the concrete stand gave way just 10 minutes before the end of the game between Bahia and Vila Nova - a team from the nearby state of Goias.


Images from the scene showed a gaping hole and a drop of at least 40m (130ft) to the street below.

Several hundred fans were in the area of the accident, jumping up and down in celebration, as Bahia looked likely to secure the 0-0 draw that would guarantee them promotion.
Around 60,000 people were reported to be in the stadium and many were unaware of the tragedy until after the game had finished.

The match finished 0-0, prompting supporters to invade the pitch in celebration.
The governor of Bahia state, Jacques Wagner, ordered the closure of the stadium while the authorities investigate the causes of the accident.

Many of the football stadiums in Brazil are old and need repair and the stadium in Salvador is believed to have opened in 1951, although it underwent a refurbishment some 20 years later, our correspondent says.
If the city is chosen to stage matches at the 2014 World Cup tournament, there are plans to build a new stadium.


This shouldn't happen. Ever.
 

ChRiStOpHe

It's a piece of cake to bake a pretty cake
Dec 14, 2004
12,813
331
_44261340_stadium_hole203ap.jpg


"Several people fell through a hole which appeared in the upper stands"

Fucking crazy... :-(
 

Chris12345

LADdam Hussein
Jan 15, 2005
11,908
31
Is it just me or does that concrete look horribly thin?!?!

and yeah... 60000 at a div3 match? That's nuts!
 

SouthLondonSpur

SC Supporter
May 28, 2004
1,676
1
I just saw this on CNN, what a 'mare.

Those are pre-stressed concrete planks and look no stronger than those I would use to build a quick fence.

Probably becuase of the jumping though, thats adds extra stress.

Very sad.
 
Top