Rescuers end search for survivors after 14 die in canopy collapse in northern Serbia

Serbian rescuers person stopped searching for survivors aft pulling retired 14 bodies from underneath tons of actual from a fallen canopy astatine nan entranceway of a railway position successful nan bluish metropolis of Novi Sad

NOVI SAD, Serbia -- Serbian rescuers stopped searching for survivors connected Saturday after pulling retired 14 bodies from underneath tons of actual from a fallen canopy astatine nan entranceway of a railway position successful nan bluish metropolis of Novi Sad.

Serbia’s authorities declared Saturday a time of mourning arsenic officials promised a thorough investigation into Friday's illness of nan tile that fell connected group sitting beneath it. The dormant included a 6-year-old woman from North Macedonia while 3 group were earnestly injured, Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said.

The train position has been renovated doubly successful caller years, and critics of Serbia’s populist authorities attributed nan disaster to corruption and sloppy renovations. Members of nan guidance planned to protestation successful beforehand of nan position later connected Saturday.

Officials person insisted that nan canopy had not been portion of nan renewal work. Goran Vesic, nan authorities curate for building and infrastructure, told nan authorities RTS tv nan calamity would not person happened had nan canopy been renovated arsenic well.

Authorities deployed dense machinery and immoderate 80 rescuers who struggled for hours to region ample parts of actual that collapsed conscionable earlier noon Friday. The rescue effort lasted until precocious Friday evening.

Residents of Novi Sad lit candles and held a vigil for nan victims astatine nan site. Many responded to a telephone to donate blood.

Surveillance camera footage connected Friday showed group moving successful and retired of nan building and sitting connected benches connected a bright, sunny time earlier nan actual canopy abruptly collapsed.

The railway station, including nan canopy, was built successful 1964. The renewal activity was carried retired by Chinese companies.

The renovated position was inaugurated by President Aleksandar Vucic and his populist ally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, complete 2 years agone arsenic a awesome stopover for a planned accelerated train statement betwixt Belgrade and Budapest.