One Year Later: Reflection and Protests Follow Novi Sad Train Station Tragedy

Mon Nov 03 2025 00:09:44 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Marking the anniversary of the tragic train station collapse in Novi Sad, Serbia, thousands gathered to remember the lives lost while continuing to demand accountability and change from the government.

A year has passed since the tragic collapse of a concrete canopy at Novi Sad railway station, resulting in 16 casualties. On this somber anniversary, large crowds paid tribute to the victims while ongoing protests against government corruption underscore public discontent. Students have taken the lead in demanding accountability and reforms, challenging the ruling party's narrative and their management of the disaster's aftermath.

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 rocked Serbia in the 12 months that have followed. But on Saturday morning, the huge crowd participated in an event that put the emphasis on 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 otherwise, the building appears to have remained untouched since the disaster.

Twisted metal protruding from the walls and broken glass still offer evidence of the catastrophe.

Novi Sad station was supposed to be a symbol of Serbia's progress, but stands today as a stark reminder of government failure. The demonstrations following the tragedy focused on deep-seated issues of corruption and accountability.

In the wake of the disaster, students emerged as leaders of a new protest movement, rejecting traditional political party affiliations and calling for systemic change. Their persistent demands for accountability are reshaping the political landscape in Serbia.

As some opposition leaders express respect for the student movement, President Vučić's shift in tone towards the protesters acknowledges the growing discontent. This anniversary reminds the community that although the day was dedicated to remembrance, the anger for justice is far from over.