fourteen dead in the collapse of a station roof, day of mourning Saturday

At least fourteen people were killed Friday when part of an exterior roof collapsed at a train station in Novi Sad, northern Serbia, President Aleksandar Vucic said. “We hope that this will be the final toll, 14 people died”President Vucic declared on television, specifying that five bodies could not be identified.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic had previously reported a death toll of twelve. “We must come together to support the families of those who have lost their lives and do everything we can to minimize the damage and help those who have lost loved ones as much as possible.”added Aleksandar Vucic. He said a child, aged six or seven, was among the dead. “I assure you that those responsible will be punished”he said.

As night fell, residents of Novi Sad placed candles and flowers at a makeshift memorial near the station.

Several injuries were also reported. Three people, extracted from the rubble, are in serious condition, two of whom are currently undergoing surgery, Vesna Turkulov, director of the medical center in the province of Vojvodina, of which Novi Sad is the capital, told the press. “The injuries are very serious”she added.

The government announced that an official day of mourning would be observed on Saturday, according to a statement broadcast by public television. The Novi Sad Blood Transfusion Institute also called on residents to donate blood after the accident.

Three years of work

Cranes and excavators were used to search the rubble for survivors, according to an AFP photographer on site. 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”.

After three years of partial renovation, a portion of the station in Novi Sad, Serbia's second largest city, reopened in July. But some parts are still under construction.

However, the Serbian Railways company clarified in a statement that the exterior roof which collapsed was not part of the renovations carried out.

A high-speed rail line was inaugurated between Novi Sad and Belgrade in March 2022.