RIO DE JANEIRO, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The roof of Brazil's Fonte Nova 2014 World Cup stadium collapsed Monday after heavy rain lashed the northeastern city of Salvador.

Workers have already begun repairing the structure's damaged eastern sector, the stadium's administrator Fonte Nova Participacoes said in a statement.

"Following heavy downpours on Salvador early Monday, water accumulated in the 36 panels of the roof's (plastic) membrane located in the eastern section, triggering its collapse," the statement said.

The 55,000-seat Fonte Nova stadium, reopened last month after being redeveloped at a cost of 345 million U.S. dollars, will host six World Cup matches in June and July next year.

It will also be one of six stadiums used at next month's Confederations Cup, which features each of FIFA's six continental champions.