Rescue workers remove debris after a roof collapsed at the entrance to a railway station in Novi Sad, Serbia, November 1, 2024. Serbian Interior Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
NOVI SAD, Serbia (Reuters) -Serbia wound up a rescue operation and opened an investigation on Saturday into a roof collapse at a railway station in the northern city of Novi Sad that killed 14 people and injured three others.
The disaster happened on Friday when a length of roofing along the entrance to the station collapsed.
Rescuers using heavy construction machinery worked through the night to free the dead and wounded from under the rubble.
Authorities declared Saturday a national day of mourning.
Thousands of people attended a vigil and protest in Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city.
The crowds, including children, blocked the intersection near the train station as people silently lit candles and placed flowers, wreaths and toys on the ground.
A group of mourners stood motionless holding white papers with names of the 14 dead.
"It must be demonstrated that not everything is as (good as) portrayed, that ... many things must be changed."
"In the countries with real democracy, the first who resigns is the minister. There was no talks here about any minister, any oversight official who should resign," said Dragomir Panic, 78, from Novi Sad.
The station in the city about 70 km (40 miles) northwest of Belgrade was renovated in 2021 and 2022. Other minor works continued until July this year when the Transport Ministry said a total of 16 million euros ($17.33 million) had been invested in the renovation.
Transport Minister Goran Vesic, state Serbian Railways company, the state Traffic Institute and a Chinese consortium - comprising China Railway International Co. Ltd and China Communications Construction Company (CRIC-CCCC) - that renovated the building, all said on Friday that the part of the building that collapsed was not a part of the works.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said 20 people would be interviewed by authorities on Saturday in connection with the disaster, including people from the ministry in charge and the state railways operator.
"The documentation about the building will (also) be obtained ... about who made the decisions," Dacic added.
The state prosecutor's office in Novi Sad said Vesic would also be among those to be interviewed.
The University Clinical Center in Novi Sad said in a statement that the three injured people remained in intensive care.
Serbia's opposition politicians and activists, who accuse authorities loyal to President Aleksandar Vucic of rampant corruption, nepotism and excessive red tape, staged a protest in front of the government building in Belgrade, leaving red paint marks of their hands at the tarmac to commemorate victims.
"People are being hurt and die for your profits, scams and frauds," the Green-Left Front party said in a statement.
Vucic, a populist, and his allies deny such allegations. In a televised address late on Friday the president promised justice and demanded harsh punishment for those responsible.
(Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic, Renee Maltezou and Branko FilipovicEditing by Frances Kerry and Mike Harrison)
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE GAZETTE