12 people died when the canopy of a railway station collapsed in Serbia

Twelve people died when a concrete roof collapsed at a train station in northern Serbia, Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said, adding that the death toll could rise.

At around noon local time (11:00 GMT) at the time of the crash, people were sitting on benches under an open-air roof at the station in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second city, Serbian Radio Television (RTS) reported.

Three people are in hospital. Among them are two women who were pulled alive from under the rubble a few hours after the collapse.

About 80 rescuers from all over the country took part in the search using heavy equipment.

The station building was renovated in 2021 and again this year for the official opening on July 5.

Serbian media quoted the Serbian Railway Infrastructure, the authority responsible for the concrete roof, as saying that it had not been reconstructed along with the station.

Prime Minister Miloš Vučević said that all those found responsible for maintaining the shelter built in 1964 will be held accountable, media reports.

Vučević said Friday was one of the most difficult days in Novi Sad’s post-war history.

“This is a great, terrible tragedy for Novi Sad and all of Serbia,” he added, sending condolences to the victims’ families and thanking the rescue services.

The government declared Saturday an official day of mourning.