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 emphasized 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 bear evidence of the catastrophe.
Novi Sad station was meant to symbolize Serbia's progress, under President Aleksandar Vučić's Progressive Party, as part of a high-speed rail project. But after the disaster, it became a prime example of the failures that many attribute to rampant corruption. Students have emerged as leaders in the ongoing protests, calling for accountability and pushing for new elections, reflecting a significant shift in public sentiment towards traditional political structures.
The government has denied accusations of corruption, despite charges filed against several officials. As protests continue, the anger among citizens remains palpable, indicating a potential transformation within Serbian politics.
