Thousands gathered for an evening vigil in northern Serbia on Saturday to honor the 14 victims killed in a tragic prepare station roof collapse.
The catastrophe struck early on Friday on the primary prepare station within the northern metropolis of Novi Sad.
At a makeshift memorial on the boulevard close to the station residents silently lit candles and laid flowers whereas some held white papers with the names of the victims.
Vigils have been additionally held in cities throughout Serbia as residents expressed their anger and disbelief, demanding accountability for the tragedy.
“First, I am very sad, second I think that something has to be done, to be changed, so we can live with dignity. The authorities have to fulfill their responsibilities. I am very bitter, very angry,” pensioner Vera Lekovic Ogorelica, 66, advised Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“I simply couldn’t be anywhere else than here tonight. To send a message of solidarity, to share the pain with the families of the victims,” stated one other mourner, kindergarten instructor Maja Drazic, 37.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic stated Saturday that the authorities had began “determining responsibility” for the catastrophe.
Dacic advised TV Prva that the prosecutor’s workplace could be questioning 20 individuals, “starting from the top, people from the ministries, the public company (Serbia) Railways.”
He stated that police have been seizing paperwork associated to the railway station from the Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Ministry.
Transport minister questioned
Serbian Radio Television reported that Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic gave a press release to the Novi Sad Police Department late Saturday within the presence of a public prosecutor.
The ministry “is fully cooperating with the prosecutor’s office in order to fully clarify the causes of this terrible tragedy,” Vesic stated.
The central railway station in Novi Sad underwent three years of renovation that was accomplished in July.
Serbia Railways stated in a press release that the collapsed roof had not been a part of the renovations.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic expressed his condolences and assist for the victims’ family members and vowed to take motion.
“Those responsible, I assure you, will be punished,” the president stated Friday.
Three individuals who have been injured within the incident stay in a severe situation, the University Clinic Center of Vojvodina stated.
Several heads of states have despatched condolences, amongst them these of Croatia, Russia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Greece and Türkiye.
Türkiye mourns victims
Türkiye on Saturday supplied condolences to the Serbian individuals over the lack of lives within the accident.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of many lives yesterday (1 November) in the collapse of the roof of a train station in Novi Sad, Serbia,” a Foreign Ministry assertion stated.
“We extend our condolences to the people of Serbia and to the families of those who lost their lives,” it added.
Source: www.dailysabah.com