Brazil’s president, Dilma Rousseff, offered her government’s assistance to local authorities if needed.”In this moment of pain, I offer my solidarity to the families of the victims,” she said on Twitter. The overpass was meant to be part of the new BRT (bus rapid transit) system, included in the city’s World Cup infrastructure plan to improve public transport for the city. The collapsed bridge stretched over one of the major thoroughfares connecting the stadium area with the international airport. The cause of the accident was unclear. Rescuers had not been able to reach one of the trapped cars.”We cannot reach the vehicle; we don’t know how many victims there are and there could still be someone alive,” Lieutenant Colonel Edgard Estevo from the city’s fire department said. Later. on the scene , some people holded signs that said: “This is the reality of the Cup” and “World Cup disaster: put it on Fifa’s bill.” Five games were hosted at Belo Horizonte stadium. A World Cup semi-final will be held on Tuesday. Belo Horizonte mayor Marcio Lacerda declared three days of mourning in the city, and promised a rigorous investigation.
