16 Soccer Fans Are Killed When Stands Collapse

At least 16 people were killed and nearly 700 injured Tuesday night when temporary stands collapsed just before the start of a French soccer game on Corsica.

French television showed scenes from the disaster live to millions of viewers.

Screaming fans who had been stamping their feet in impatience plunged more than 60 feet as the top rows of the scaffolding buckled and crashed minutes before a French Cup semifinal game was due to start.

“It was as if the earth suddenly opened beneath our feet,” said a survivor lying on the field with two broken legs.

The temporary stands were brought in to increase the regular capacity of 8,500 seats for the French Cup semifinal between Bastia and Olympique Marseille, the French League champion.

The game was postponed.