Photo: Screenshots from World Voiced News Youtube Channel
A flyover bridge in Belo Horizonte, a south-eastern Brazilian city due to host a football World Cup semi-final match next week, has just collapsed last night. Two people were killed and several others war injured in what is yet another accident part of the long line of missed deadlines in Brazil’s preparations for the World Cup.
The concrete and steel bridge was still under construction and is part of the 2014 World Cup infrastructure plan aimed to improving Belo Horizonte’s public transport system. Moments after it fell on to traffic on a busy highway, witnesses have filmed people’s despair as they were trying to give help to the stranded victims.
According to the BBC, the front of a commuter bus was crushed along with two apparently unoccupied construction lorries. A car was also reported crushed. The bus driver and another person were killed and at least 22 other people were injured. Hours after, while officials were already sending regrets to victims’ families, protesters once again turn out on the place of the accident showing their disagreement with how Brazilian authorities decided to spent billion of dollars for the World Cup preparations.
While most of the witnesses were shocked by the accident itself, the residents of the city seem to have expected this to happen, considering the poor organization of the government in keeping the deadlines they took. “Every World Cup infrastructure construction was delayed until the last year and they started to build it so fast and without quality,” a resident of the city, Diego Siqueira, told to the source.
As a matter of fact, Brazil’s preparations for the World Cup have been marred by accidents and missed deadlines. At least seven people were killed working on stadiums prior to the start of the tournament. Meanwhile, authorities have denied allegations that budgets have been cut to get projects finished on time for the football competition.
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