Belgrade, 1 November 2024 (MIA) - In his address to the public this evening, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said that 14 people lost their lives in today’s tragic accident in Novi Sad, where the concrete roof at the main railway station collapsed. He also said that one of the deceased is a national of North Macedonia, while the identities of five victims remain unidentified, MIA’s Belgrade correspondent reports.

“Today, at 11:50 AM, our nation was struck by a terrible tragedy. The concrete roof at the main railway station in Novi Sad collapsed onto a large crowd of people near the station,” Vučić said in an emergency address to the nation.

Vučić said he hoped the death toll was final, and that five of the victims remained unidentified for the time being.

"Eight people are nationals of the Republic of Serbia and one person is a national of North Macedonia," Vučić said.

"As president of the Republic, I request from the Higher Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad and the Government of Serbia that the people responsible for what happened be prosecuted and punished strictly. By mentioning the Government, I am also requesting political and, prior to that, criminal responsibility," Vučić said.

He extended condolences to the families of the victims.