A surveillance camera recorded the moment of the collapse of part of the roof of the railway station in Novi Sad in northern Serbia, which occurred around noon on Friday. The recording shows how, a few seconds before the tragedy, some people sit down and others get up from the benches in front of the building.
On Friday in Part of the roof of the railway station collapsed in Novi Sad in northern Serbia. At least eleven people were killed and dozens were injured. According to Serbia's Interior Minister Ivica Daczić, an “extremely difficult rescue operation” is underway.
When the roof collapsed, many people were sitting on the benches underneath. The recording from the moment of the incident shows some people sitting down and others getting up from the benches a few seconds before the tragedy. The structure collapsed, crushing the people underneath.
Although it cannot be seen in the low-quality recording, witnesses said that at the time of the accident, students returning home from nearby towns were under the roof.
The moment the roof collapsed at the station in Novi Sad in northern Serbia Reuters
The station was opened after general renovation
The station was opened in July this year after a general renovation, for which the Chinese consortium CRIC&CCCC (China Railway International Co.Ltd and China Communications Construction Company Ltd) was responsible – recalled N1 television. Serbia's state railways said on Friday that the collapsed part of the roof was not part of the building's recent reconstruction work.
Rescue operation after a roof collapse Enex
The opposition at the local and central level in Serbia called for an urgent investigation and a thorough examination of the reconstruction works. These groups accused the authorities in the city and state of negligence that led to the accident.
Serbian Prime Minister and former Mayor of Novi Sad Milos Vuczevic declared that it was “Black Friday for all of Serbia and Novi Sad.” “Regardless of the fact that this building was built in 1964, we will insist on identifying those responsible for this tragedy,” he added.
Main photo source: Reuters