Serbian students mark two years since the station disaster that killed 16, a week after toppling Vucic at the polls

A concrete canopy at Novi Sad railway station collapsed at 11:52am on 1 November 2024, killing 16 people — including two sisters aged six and 10 — after a multi-million-euro renovation dogged by allegations of corruption and negligence. Thousands marched silently through rain-soaked streets on Sunday to mark the second anniversary, laying wreaths and lighting candles before observing 16 minutes of silence, one for each victim.

Dijana Hrka, mother of Stefan, 27, who died in the collapse, wept when she reached the heart-shaped banner displaying his name outside the station.

Students declared the disaster was not a "tragedy" — a word they said concealed deliberate wrongdoing — vowing to build a more just Serbia and hold the guilty to account.

The anniversary falls just seven days after the student-led anti-corruption movement swept Aleksandar Vucic's right-wing government from power in snap elections.