Another worker dies at cup site

A worker died on Thursday at a World Cup stadium in Brazil after he was electrocuted, an official source said; the eighth fatality during chaotic preparations for the soccer showpiece.

The 32-year-old father of two was installing lighting in a corridor at the new Pantanal Arena in Cuiaba when he suffered the electric shock. He died despite attempts by emergency services at the scene.

A spokesman for the regional World Cup secretariat said work to finish the 43,000-capacity venue in central-western Brazil would continue, with the World Cup five weeks away.

The stadium, which has been running behind schedule but is due to be inaugurated on May 18, will host four matches, starting with Chile versus Australia on June 13.

Sports minister Aldo Rebelo said in a statement he was saddened at the death of Mohamed Ali Maciel Afonso and sent condolences to the family.

A series of fatal accidents have marred preparations for the June 12-July 13 tournament in 12 cities across Brazil.

Three workers died in the Arena Amazonia in the city of Manaus, and three other fatalities occurred at Sao Paulo's much-delayed Corinthians Arena, which hosts the opening match between Brazil and Croatia on June 12.

There was a further death at the new stadium in the capital, Brasilia, in 2012.

Brazil has been racing against the clock to complete preparations, not only at stadiums but also in terms of transport links and aging airports.

Half of the 12 stadiums missed a Dec 31 FIFA deadline to be ready and, in addition to Cuiaba, Sao Paulo, Curitiba and Porto Alegre are also yet to be completed.

FIFA, world soccer's governing body, has repeatedly decried the host's "last-minute" approach but says the stadiums will be ready by the time the action starts.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 05/10/2014 page15)