Serbia: Railway station roof partially collapses, killing 12

The death toll jumped from eight and rescuers say many people remain trapped inside. The Novi Sad railway station, in Serbia's second-largest city, reopened in July after renovation work.

At least 12 people were killed on Friday when a concrete roof above the entrance of a railway station in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad collapsed, with Interior Minister Ivica Dacic saying, "The current number of bodies recovered is 12. So, 12 people have lost their lives."

More people were trapped under the rubble, and Dacic said the rescue operation would last for several more hours.

"Over 80 rescuers are involved, with the assistance of heavy machinery," he said. Emergency workers at the scene are working with excavation crews using heavy machinery to cut and dig through the collased structure to locate and rescue survivors. 

The Blood Transfusion Institute in Novi Sad has called on residents to donate blood.

Station recently renovated

It was not immediately clear what caused the partial collapse, but the Novi Sad Railway Station had only reopened in July after three years of renovation work.

Construction work was still ongoing in parts of the building.

Surveillance footage showed people entering and exiting the building and sitting on benches on a sunny day before the concrete structure suddenly collapsed.

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic described it as "a black Friday for us, for all of Serbia."

"We will insist on finding those responsible, those who should have ensured the structure's safety. My condolences to the families of the deceased," he said.

The Serbian government has declared Saturday a national day of mourning.

js,lo/msh (AFP, AP, Reuters)