Serbia Marks Heartbreaking Anniversary of Train Station Tragedy

Sun Nov 02 2025 04:36:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A year after the tragic roof collapse at Novi Sad railway station, communities gather to mourn the loss of 16 lives, while ongoing protests highlight a growing movement against corruption.

On the first anniversary of the catastrophic roof collapse that claimed 16 lives in Novi Sad, Serbia, thousands came to pay their respects. The event reflected on the tragedy, but also on the unrest that has gripped the country since. Regular protests have emerged, led primarily by students demanding government accountability and fresh elections. As grief intertwines with anger, many view the incident as a failure of governmental oversight and corruption.

A sea of people flowed along the roads leading up to Novi Sad railway station. They came in their tens of thousands to remember the 16 people who died there this time last year, on another unseasonably warm and sunny autumn day.

The victims were standing or sitting underneath a concrete canopy at the recently-renovated facility when it collapsed. The two youngest were just six years old, the oldest, 77.

Regular protests have shocked Serbia in the 12 months that have followed. But on Saturday morning, the huge crowd participated in an event that emphasized quiet commemoration.

At 11:52 (10:52 GMT), the time of the disaster, they observed a silence for 16 minutes—one for each of the victims. Family members cried. One woman needed to be physically supported by men wearing the red berets of armed forces veterans.

After the silence, relatives laid flowers at the front of the station. The rubble of the collapsed canopy has been cleared away, but the building appears to have remained untouched since the disaster, with twisted metal and broken glass still evident.

Novi Sad station was supposed to symbolize Serbia's progress, under President Aleksandar Vučić's Progressive Party. However, following the disaster, the station stands as a prime example of what went wrong in Serbia. The government has faced accusations of negligence and corruption in connection with the tragedy, prompting a series of protests led by students who are now demanding accountability and fresh elections.

This new wave of protests, characterized by student leadership and a call for systemic change, has gained significant traction across the region. The anger surrounding the station's collapse continues to fuel public outrage and a desire for meaningful reform, with many calling for an end to the cronyism that they believe has tainted Serbian institutions.

As the anniversary of the tragedy passed, it became clear that while remembrance took center stage, the fight for justice is far from over.