Families of Novi Sad railway station disaster victims lay wreaths a year on

Описание: (1 Nov 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Novi Sad, Serbia - 1 Nov 2025
1. Students arriving in front of the station carrying heart shaped banners with names of victims
2. Students carrying wreath
3. Students carrying heart shaped banners
4. Dijana Hrka, mother of Stefan Hrka who died at the train station, arriving to lay wreath, crying
5. Various of Dijana Hrka laying wreath, crying
6. Dijana Hrka sitting on ground
7. People laying wreaths
8. Students releasing white doves in the air
9. Crowd at train station observing 16 minutes of silence for 16 victims
10. Various of crowd during 16 minutes of silence
11. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Jovica Kostic, local resident:
"A lot of sadness and anger has built up in people all these years, so it just culminated with this (tragedy). This is a reason for some rebellion, but there is a lot of sadness. There was a lot of anger, injustice all these years."
12. People laying flowers
13. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Branka (no last name given), local resident:
"There is a lot of pain, there is a lot of sadness.There are lots of emotions every time. Every time when I am here, when I pass by the station. I live here. Tears always come, I can't stop them."
14. People standing by the train station holding flowers
15. White rose
STORYLINE:
Tens of thousands of people from all over Serbia gathered on Saturday in the northern town of Novi Sad to commemorate the victims of a railway station disaster a year ago  - a massive rally also seen as a display of boiling discontent with autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic's rule. 

The collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad train station last Nov. 1 killed 16 people. The tragedy triggered youth-led street protests and a nationwide movement demanding political changes that have seriously shaken Vucic's tight hold on power.

The protesters believe that the concrete construction at the renovated station building in Novi Sad collapsed on people because widespread state corruption and nepotism in state infrastructure projects with China led to fatal disregard of safety rules.

No one has been held responsible though charges have been raised against 13 people.

Saturday's ceremonies started with 16 minutes of silence for the 16 victims at exactly 11.52a.m., the time of of the crash a year ago. 

Vucic has cracked down hard on the protesters in recent months, with police detaining hundreds of people and using tear gas and batons while charging at the protesters.

Huge turnout on Saturday, however, suggested protesters' resolve for major political reforms in the country persist.   

Serbia is seeking European Union entry but the accession process has stalled as Vucic nurtured close relations with Russia and China while also clamping down on democratic freedoms to achieve full control. 

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