14 dead in Serbia train station roof collapse
National mourning has been declared in Serbia following the tragic collapse of a train station roof in Novi Sad, which resulted in the deaths of 14 people.
President Aleksandar Vučić has called upon the prosecutor's office and the government to initiate proceedings to hold those responsible for the incident accountable.
At least 14 individuals, including a young girl aged six or seven, lost their lives when the concrete roof structure gave way. According to Radio Television Serbia (RTS), the incident occurred around midday local time (11:00 GMT) as people sought shelter from the sun under the station's open-air roof. Novi Sad is Serbia's second-largest city.
Three people are currently hospitalised, including two women who were pulled from the rubble several hours after the collapse. In an address to the nation, President Vučić expressed his hope that the death toll would remain at 14, noting that five of the victims have yet to be identified. He asserted, "Those responsible, I assure you, will be punished," (AFP).
Rescue efforts, involving approximately 80 responders and heavy machinery from across the country, continue at the site. The station building underwent renovations in 2021 and again this year, with an official reopening ceremony held on July 5th. However, television station N1 reports that the section of the roof that collapsed was not included in the recent renovations. According to Agerpres, the Serbian press has indicated that Railway Infrastructure of Serbia, the entity responsible for the concrete roof, confirmed it was not rebuilt when the station was renovated. The station was originally constructed in 1964.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
