Eight people have died after a concrete canopy collapsed at a railway station in northern Serbia, the country’s interior minister, Ivica Dacic, said.

People were sitting on benches under the outer exit of the train station in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second city, at the time of the collapse around noon local time (1100 GMT), Serbian Radio Television (RTS ) said.

Dacic said two people were hospitalized, including a man whose legs were amputated.
Rescuers were in contact with two other people, including a girl, still under the rubble, he added.

About 80 rescuers from all over the country took part in the search, using heavy equipment. The railway station building was renovated in 2021 and was renovated again this year to be officially opened on July 5.

Serbian media quoted the Railway Infrastructure of Serbia, the body responsible for the concrete cover, as saying that it had not been rebuilt with the station.

Prime Ministe Vucevic said, “today is one of the most challenging days in the post-war history of Novi Sad. He vowed that all the people responsible for the maintenance of the glass ceiling, built in 1964, will be held accountable.

He Thanked the first responders whilst sending his condolences to the families of the victims.