At least eight people were killed on Friday after part of an exterior roof collapsed at a train station in Novi Sad, northern Serbia.
“Eight bodies were found, eight people died… Two people are in hospital, one of whom is in critical condition,” Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said. “The rescue operation is still ongoing and is proving extremely complicated. More than 80 rescuers are mobilized,” he added.
He said rescuers were in contact with two people trapped in the rubble.
Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, for his part, promised an investigation into the causes of the accident.
“We will insist on finding those who are responsible, those who should have ensured the safety of the structure. My condolences to the families of the deceased,” he said, adding: “It’s a Black Friday for us, for all of Serbia, for Novi Sad.”
Videos posted on social media show several ambulances, a fire truck and excavators in front of the train station.
The Novi Sad station reopened in July after three years of renovation. Work was still underway in parts of the station. However, the Serbian Railways company clarified in a statement that the exterior roof that collapsed was not part of the renovations carried out at the station.
A high-speed rail line was inaugurated between Novi Sad and Belgrade in March 2022.
