A tragic incident at a railway station in northern Serbia has resulted in the deaths of twelve individuals, as confirmed by Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, who also indicated that the number of casualties may increase. The collapse occurred around noon local time when people were seated under the concrete canopy at the station in Novi Sad, which is the country’s second-largest city, according to reports from Radio Television of Serbia (RTS).

Three individuals have been hospitalized following the incident, including two women who were rescued alive from beneath the debris several hours later. Approximately 80 rescue workers from various regions of Serbia participated in the search efforts, utilizing heavy machinery to aid in their operations.

The railway station underwent renovations in 2021 and was scheduled for another update this year ahead of its planned reopening on July 5. Serbian media reported comments from Railway Infrastructure of Serbia, which stated that the canopy had not been part of the recent renovations.

Prime Minister Miloš Vučević expressed his condolences to the victims' families and assured that those responsible for maintaining the canopy, which dates back to 1964, would be held accountable. He described Friday as one of Novi Sad’s most challenging days since the end of the war, emphasizing the gravity of the situation by stating it was a significant tragedy for both Novi Sad and Serbia as a whole.

In remembrance of those lost, the government has designated Saturday as an official day of mourning. As rescue operations continue, several more individuals have died, and numerous emergency responders are tirelessly searching for any remaining survivors trapped under the rubble.