Railway tragedy in Novi Sad: Roof collapse claims eight lives
At least eight people have died after part of the roof of a railway station in Novi Sad, in northern Serbia, collapsed on Friday, according to the Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs, Ivica Dačić.
On Friday afternoon, in the Serbian city of Novi Sad, a tragic accident occurred when part of the railway station roof collapsed, resulting in the deaths of at least eight people and injuries to more than 30 others.
The Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs, Ivica Dačić, stated, "Eight bodies were recovered from the rubble, and two people are in hospital. The condition of one is very serious, and their legs have been amputated." Ambulances, fire engines, and heavy equipment for debris clearing were immediately dispatched to the scene.
The mayor of Novi Sad, Milan Đurić, has made a plea for help. The hospital in Novi Sad called on residents to donate blood for the injured. The Serbian public broadcaster RTS reported that at the time the front part of the roof collapsed, many people were sitting on benches below, including students returning home from nearby towns.
Minister Ivica Dačić arrived at the scene of the tragedy, and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, is on his way. The Prime Minister of Serbia and former mayor of Novi Sad, Miloš Vučević, assured that "everything will be done to find those responsible."
The station was under renovation
The railway station was reopened in July 2024 after a major renovation carried out by the Chinese consortium CRIC&CCCC (China Railway International Co. Ltd and China Communications Construction Company Ltd). The Serbian State Railways stated that the collapsed part of the roof was not included in the recent reconstruction works.
The opposition at both local and national levels has called for an urgent investigation and thorough examination of the renovation works, accusing the authorities of negligence that may have led to the disaster.
