Five more bodies were pulled out from under the ruins of the old canopy at the train station in Novi Sad, bringing the death toll to 13. The exact number of injured has not yet been determined. Among those injured in the fall of the canopy are two minors, one of whom is a six-year-old child, said Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Ivica Dačić, said tonight that “the 13th body has been recovered from the accident that happened in Novi Sad” and added that “they do not expect that more victims will be found”.
“When we had eight victims, we knew that there were five more people under the ruins whom we could not determine whether they were alive or dead,” Dacic told reporters.
As he says, they did not show signs of life, and the severity of the injuries did not allow anyone to be helped.
“Death occurred on the spot,” the minister added.
He stated that three people survived the accident and are in the hospital.
“The woman and the girl who were trapped under the ruins were also rescued, we only had voice contact with the younger one. This is a difficult job, there are close to 80 rescuers from the Department of Emergency Situations of the MUP, as well as the mechanization of several public utility companies.” , said Dacic.
He added that the causes of the accident are being determined.
“The state authorities are dealing with it and they will look at everyone’s responsibility,” said Dacic.
Acting Director of the Clinical Center of Vojvodina Vesna Turkulov stated that three people were brought to the Emergency Center in a very serious condition, two of them women who were pulled from the ruins and are in the operating room.
“The two women who were pulled from the ruins are in a very serious condition. The first one was resuscitated in the ambulance, and after stabilization she was taken for diagnostics, which is ongoing, the injuries are very serious. The second one was intubated and came to the Clinical Center and is in the operating room Turkulov points out.
According to her, the first patient who was pulled out is also in serious condition.
“Three people are in a very serious condition, two are in the operating room. These are serious, life-threatening injuries,” says Turkolov, adding that colleagues from other medical institutions have offered help.
Turkolov also adds that they currently have enough blood for transfusion, but that more will certainly be needed, since it is a case of severe polytrauma.
Seven emergency vehicles immediately arrived at the scene of the accident, while fire crews are trying to reach people under the rubble. The canopy that fell, was built in 1964, collapsed a little before 12 o’clock.
The mayor of Novi Sad, Milan Đurić, declared today three days of mourning in the territory of that city, on the occasion of the serious accident caused by the collapse of the roof of the Railway Station building. The days of mourning will begin on November 2, the city administration announced.
