Commemoration and Continued Outrage: Serbia Reflects on Train Station Tragedy

Mon Nov 03 2025 04:06:46 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A year after the fatal train station canopy collapse in Novi Sad, Serbia, the community mourns the 16 victims while protests against government corruption continue to resonate across the nation.

On the anniversary of the Novi Sad train station disaster, where 16 people lost their lives, thousands gathered for a solemn remembrance. The tragedy has sparked ongoing protests against perceived government corruption, with students emerging as key leaders in the fight for accountability and reform.

A sea of people flowed along the roads leading up to Novi Sad railway station, gathering in their tens of thousands to remember the 16 victims who died a year ago on an unseasonably warm autumn day. Underneath a recently renovated concrete canopy, the unsuspecting victims were standing or seated when it collapsed. Among them were the youngest, just six years old, and the oldest victim, aged 77.

Regular protests have rocked Serbia in the years since this tragedy, but on Saturday morning, the massive crowd put their emphasis on commemoration over protest. At precisely 11:52 AM (10:52 GMT), marking the exact time of the disaster, they observed a silence for 16 minutes—one minute for each life lost. Family members expressed their grief, with one woman needing to be supported by men in red berets, members of the armed forces veterans.

In stark contrast to the ongoing protests, the site of the disaster remains visibly marred, with evidence of the catastrophe still apparent amidst the cleared rubble—twisted metal and broken glass serve as chilling reminders. The station, once a symbol of progress under President Aleksandar Vučić, now stands as a testament to corruption and inadequate safety standards in Serbia.

For many, the April safety standards debacle, particularly in relation to the renovation and construction at the railroad, epitomized everything wrong with the government. After the disaster, a wave of anti-government sentiment followed, highlighted by placards reading corruption kills, with students from local universities taking on leadership roles in the protests.

These protests marked a departure from previous movements that were often seen as driven by opposition parties, which the citizens have grown disillusioned with. The students offered fresh voices, demanding not just accountability but also calling for fresh elections to eliminate cronyism from the nation's institutions. Recent legal actions stemming from the incident have resulted in charges against 13 officials, including the former Minister of Construction, Infrastructure, and Transport.

Despite the protests' success in galvanizing support, the government is yet to assume responsibility. The ongoing student-led movement is gaining traction, drawing support for their integrity, while previous opposition efforts appear uninspired. As the anniversary brought reflection, the anger among the citizens—especially the youth—remains palpable, with ongoing demonstrations likely to continue until significant change is achieved.