Two killed following collapse of overpass in Brazilian World Cup city of Belo Horizonte

 
Collapse: a woman driving the bus has died (Picture: AP)
Alexandra Rucki4 July 2014

An overpass in Brazil has killed at least two people and trapped a bus full of passengers, two trucks and a car.

The structure, located in the World Cup host city Belo Horizonte, collapsed on main avenue which formed part of the tournament's infrastructure plan.

Firefighters said a woman driving the commuter bus has died and at least another 19 people are injured. An official in the mayor's office said a second person died, raising the death toll to two.

The overpass collapsed three miles from the Mineirao football stadium, which is set to host a semi-final match on Tuesday.

Captain Federico Pascual, of the Belo Horizonte fire department, said the overpass "arched over a really busy thoroughfare."

He said he feared there may be at least one more death, as "we still cannot get a look inside the car" that was trapped.

Nicole Frio, a freelance journalist from Brazil, told UK media contractors will have to answer for whatever caused the accident.

She told the Standard: "The whole world saw how pressed Brazil was to finish all the constructions for the World Cup and this may have been the result of a sloppy and rushed job.

"From what I've seen the first responders were quick and that's great - but the people who built the structure should answer for whatever it was that caused the accident."

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