2 died after collapse of Madonna stage

A second person has died during construction for Madonna's upcoming concerts in Marseilles, France, authorities said Friday.
Firefighters leave the Stade Velodrome stadium in Marseille after the accident on Thursday.

The Marseille hospital authority says the second person is a British worker died Friday from injuries suffered in the accident.The second fatality was a British citizen, the British Foreign Office said. It was not clear whether the person was a man or woman, but the next of kin had been informed, the Foreign Office said.A French worker was killed immediately when the roof fell apart on top of several workers Thursday.A 53-year-old French man was killed when a crane collapsed at the venue, a fire department spokesman in the southern French city said.Eight other people were seriously hurt, including an American who was hospitalized in a life-threatening condition.More than 30 people suffered minor injuries and shock, according to authorities.None of the victims' identities has been released.

The 60,000-seater Velodrome is France's second-biggest sports arena and home to the Olympique de Marseille football club.Fire-fighters said the accident occurred when the roof of the stage became unbalanced as it was being lifted by four cranes, toppling one of them.Madonna performs during her concert on 11 July in Belgium.The planned concert was part of Madonna's Sticky and Sweet tourAbout 50 people from a range of nationalities were working to set up the structure, city sports official Richard Miron said.The roof "started shaking and collapsing" gradually, said Marseilles city councilor Maurice Di Nocera.

Technicians had been setting up the stage at the city's Velodrome stadium when the partially-built roof fell in on Thursday, bringing down a crane.Madonna said she was "devastated" by the news. Her concert, planned for Sunday, has been canceled. Madona said "I am devastated to have just received this tragic news," she said in a statement released by Live Nation, the organizers of the concert.

"My prayers go out to those who were injured and their families, along with my deepest sympathy to all those affected by this heartbreaking news."