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| Date | 1 November 2024 |
|---|---|
| Time | 11:50 (CET) |
| Location | Novi Sad railway station, Novi Sad, Serbia |
| Deaths | 14 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 30+[1] |
On 1 November 2024, at 11:50 CET, 14 people were killed and at least thirty others were injured when the 35 m or 115 ft–long canopy of the main railway station in Novi Sad, Serbia collapsed onto people walking and sitting underneath.[2][3][4]
The railway station was constructed in 1964 and was renovated from 2021 to Summer 2024.[5] The work was done by a consortium of Chinese companies China Railway International Co., Ltd (a subsidiary of China Railway Group Limited) and China Communications Construction Company, Ltd. (together: CRIC-CCCC).[6] Both the Chinese contractor and Serbian Railways Infrastructure, which operates the building, stated that the canopy was not specifically subject to renovations.[5][6]
About 80 rescuers from multiple cities across Serbia used heavy machinery to pull debris off of the site of the collapse, including excavators and cranes.[5][7]
Initially eight deaths were reporterd, but this number later rose to 14.[1] The Serbian government declared a nation-wide day of mourning for 2 November,[5] whereas the City of Novi Sad declared three days of mourning in the city.[8]
The Novi Sad Higher Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation.[9]
Government ministers, Prime Minister of Serbia Miloš Vučević and Mayor of Novi Sad Milan Đurić visited the disaster site.[1] President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović expressed his condolences and expressed solidarity with involved relatives and civilians of Serbia and Novi Sad.[10]