A section of the stadium that will host the football World Cup opener in Brazil has collapsed killing three people.
A crane collapsed this afternoon and fell onto the stadium's construction site in Sao Paulo, destroying parts of the stands.

Local military police say the soil beneath it gave way. Although three people were killed, the accident happened at lunchtime meaning fewer construction workers were in the area when the collapse occurred.

The crane was putting the final framework into place on the east stand at Arena Corinthians.

The stadium, which was scheduled to be finished in the next month or so, is to be the site of the opening game when Brazil hosts the 2014 World Cup in June and July.

The collapse could delay the delivery of the stadium in Sao Paulo by FIFA's December deadline. The stadium was 94% complete.

The stadium owner, Sport Club Corinthians, has released a statement on the collapse.

"The board of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista hereby deeply regret the accident earlier in Corinthians Arena.

A spokesman for Odebrecht SA, the construction firm building the stadium, declined immediate comment.

Brazil has admitted that it is having difficulties getting all 12 venues ready for the start of the tournament. There have also been public protests over the amounts of money being spent by the country's government on the tournament.

As reported by the BBC, Danny Jordaan, who was involved with South Africa's 2010 World Cup, said Brazil may need to have to start 24-hour construction work in order to be ready for the beginning of the tournament.