Eight killed in Serbian railway station roof collapse

Eight people were killed and two hospitalised on Friday when the roof of a railway station in the Serbian town of Novi Sad collapsed, interior minister Ivica Dacic said in a televised statement.

Local television stations showed emergency services at the scene, including medical staff who were preparing stretchers nearby. Two large diggers for removing rubble were also stationed in front of the station.

“It is an extremely difficult rescue operation that will last for several more hours. We have around 80 rescuers from several towns working and heavy machinery,” Dacic said, adding that two more people were still under the rubble but were alive.

Local media said potentially dozens of people were injured.

The mayor’s office in the city acknowledged the incident but did not say how many were hurt.

N1 news channel said that train departures were halted from the station about 70 kilometres (43 miles) northwest of the capital Belgrade.