Deadly Train Station Collapse in Serbia Claims Multiple Lives
At least 14 people lost their lives on Friday when the concrete roof above the entrance of a railway station in Novi Sad, a city in northern Serbia, collapsed.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic reported, "When we reached eight victims, we knew that five more individuals were still trapped under the debris, though we couldn't confirm whether they were alive or dead."
Dacic confirmed that those recovered had died "on the spot." Earlier, he noted that "over 80 rescuers are working on the scene, aided by heavy machinery."
Emergency teams, alongside excavation crews, were using heavy equipment to cut and clear through the wreckage in search of any additional survivors. The Blood Transfusion Institute in Novi Sad urged residents to donate blood to aid the response.
Station recently renovated
It was not immediately clear what caused the partial collapse, but the Novi Sad Railway Station had only reopened in July after three years of renovation work. Construction work was still ongoing in parts of the building.
Surveillance footage showed people entering and exiting the building and sitting on benches on a sunny day before the concrete structure suddenly collapsed.
Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic described it as "a black Friday for us, for all of Serbia."
"We will insist on finding those responsible, those who should have ensured the structure's safety. My condolences to the families of the deceased," he said. The Serbian government has declared Saturday a national day of mourning.
(Source: Deutsche Welle)
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