Agencies/Brasilia

Two workers were killed on Wednesday when a crane collapsed at the stadium, raising fresh doubts about Brazil’s ability to finish work for the tournament on schedule.

Globo television showed a priest leading workers in prayer before they resumed work.

Small groups of stonemasons, metal workers and others trickled into the Itaquerao Stadium, expressing determination to finish work ahead of the World Cup opener on June 12. “We are all Brazilians and Brazilians never quit. We’re going to get our work done and the first game of the World Cup will be held here,’’ said 26-year-old metalworker Americo Barbosa.

“It’s good to get back to work but at the same time it is difficult because of the deaths of our colleagues. It is very sad,” said one worker, 40-year-old Jose Viana da Silva. “I’ve been working here for a year and four months, and I had never seen a serious accident.”

Despite yesterday’s resumption, some 30% of outstanding works at the venue remain on hold owing to an investigation into the tragedy. A crane collapsed onto a section of the stands as workers were using it to lift a final 420-tonne metallic segment to the top of the roof.

The cause of the accident was not yet known, but investigators said they were considering human error, a problem with the crane and the possibility that rain-sodden ground had shifted under the weight.

Debris from the accident at the $404mn stadium will be cleared this week allowing main contractor Odebrecht to confirm the actual venue structure remains intact.