Police closed the streets around the stadium to traffic as a precaution.

"Thirty to 40 meters (98-131 feet) of the wall" collapsed, the director of the commissions responsible for managing the country’s sporting venues, Ludovico Vides, told reporters.

Fire department spokesman, Oscar Triminio, said that preliminary investigations indicate the wall "gave way" because it was saturated with water after weeks of rain, and the severe storm on Monday.

The 40,000-seat National Stadium was built during the 1933-1949 government of Tiburcio Carias, and underwent extensive renovations in the early 1980’s.