At least 11 killed in roof collapse at Serbian railway station
Bulldozers were removing the debris as people looked for survivors.
A concrete roof above the entrance of a railway station in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad collapsed on Friday, killing at least 11 people with many more still buried under the rubble.
Interior minister Ivica Dacic said that at least four other people have been admitted to hospital with serious injuries, while rescuers have established contact with two people who are still buried under piles of concrete.
“Probably there will be several more people (dead),” Mr Dacic said. “Personally I saw a body that we could not reach. There will be more, this number will not be the final one.”
Ambulances and other emergency teams were sent to the central station and bulldozers were removing the debris as people looked for survivors.
Surveillance camera footage showed people moving in and out of the building and sitting on benches as the concrete structure suddenly collapsed on them.
The building has recently been renovated.
Mr Dacic said the rescue operation was “extremely hard” and that it would last for at least several more hours.
Serbia’s government declared November 2 a day of mourning.
Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic said “this is a black Friday for us, for all of Serbia”.
Mr Vucevic said that the roof was built in 1964 and an investigation is under way to determine what happened and who is responsible for the tragedy.
Serbia’s state railway company said the accident happened at 11.50am local time.
The company said the structure above the station entrance was not touched during the recent renovation.
