Brazil World Cup stadium roof partially collapses

BELO HORIZONTE - Rain and wind caused part of Brazil's Mineirao World Cup stadium roof to collapse on Saturday.

Video footage published by newspaper Folha de S. Paulo shows three metallic plates falling into the pitch just minutes before the match between local rivals Cruzeiro and Minas Futebol.

Nobody was hurt in the incident.

According to local weather institute Clima da PUC-Minas, the weather conditions were not abnormal for Brazil's southeastern city of Belo Horizonte at this time of year.

A spokesman for the incident said that 10.6mm of rain fell over three hours while winds did not exceed 36km/h.

Cruzeiro manager Marcelo Oliveira also criticized the state of the water-logged pitch.

"Questions have to be asked. Is this pitch up to FIFA standard? I think the quality needs to be better," he said.

The Mineiro stadium, which has been redeveloped at a cost of 300 million US dollars, will host six matches during this year's World Cup.

Saturday's incident has renewed concerns about the safety of Brazil's 12 World Cup venues.

Seven stadium construction workers have died so far while an October fire caused structural damage at Cuiaba's Arena's Pantanal, according to local prosecutors.