With 10 minutes of the third division match remaining a hole opened up in the stands and fans plummeted 40 meters (130 feet) to the ground.
At the time of the tragedy, 60,000 soccer fans were watching the local team, Bahia, play Vila Nova, a goalless draw or a win was needed for the local side to be promoted to the second division. As promotion was in sight, fans started jumping around in celebration, which may have led to the floor collapsing.
The state governor ordered the stadium, which was built in 1951, to be closed until the cause of the tragedy has been investigated.
The condition of the stadium came under heavy criticism recently from Brazil's association of architects and engineers, who said that the stands were "in ruins."
Brazil has been chosen to host the 2014 World Cup.
