BELGRADE – The deadly collapse of a concrete roof at a train station in Serbia has heightened tensions across the Balkans, fueling widespread anger at the government and protests after the failure claimed 15 lives in the northern city of Novi Sad.

The station, a major hub, was recently renovated as part of a Serbian-Chinese partnership. Critics argue that corruption, poor oversight and inadequate construction work contributed the tragedy of November 1. Officials have offered conflicting information about whether the roof was part of the renovation, and its maintenance is under review.

The collapse became a flashpoint for wider discontent with Serbia’s authoritarian rule, reflecting growing public demands for transparency as the country undertakes major infrastructure projects, mostly with Chinese state-owned companies.

What do we know about the collapse?

Very little. The railway station was built in 1964 and renovated twice in recent years as part of a wider agreement between China, Serbia and Hungary to establish a high-speed railway link between Belgrade and Budapest.

Initially, authorities said the exterior roof was not renovated during work on the station, but they did not provide an explanation as to why. Later, experts denied it, and pictures emerged suggesting that at least some roof work was done after all.

One of the protesters’ demands has been to make public all documentation in connection with the reconstruction project.

Has there been an investigation?

Authorities opened a probe immediately after the collapse, promising it would be thorough and spare no one regardless of position. On Thursday, 11 people were arrested.

The suspects, who have not been identified, are charged “with committing criminal acts against public safety, causing public danger and irregular execution of construction works,” the Novi Sad High Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.

Serbian media reported that Goran Vesic, who resigned as construction minister after the collapse, was among those detained.

Prosecutors have previously said that several dozen people have been questioned. The only information about the investigation so far has come from Serbian media, which published unconfirmed reports about the companies involved in the reconstruction.

Why do people protest?

In the first days after the tragedy, Serbs protested mostly in silence and held vigils for the victims. But as time went on, grief gave way to anger, leading to a wave of demonstrations in different places and by different groups.

Most recently, protesters blocked a courthouse in Novi Sad, demanding that the judicial authorities “do their job.” Riot police pushed them away from the entrance, leading to brawls and a two-day standoff this week.

Chants such as “corruption kills” also marked the protests calling for the dissolution of the entire government over the tragedy. Demonstrators left symbolic handprints in red paint on government buildings and accused the authorities of having “blood on their hands”.

How did the authorities react to the protests?

Analysts say the government has tried to cushion the damage to its image by prolonging the investigation, apparently hoping public anger will ease over time.

Serbia’s authoritarian president, Aleksandar Vucic, has repeatedly called for calm and urged people to trust institutions. He has said that the investigation is complicated and takes time. But Vucic also said that “responsibility cannot be avoided.”

Meanwhile, police detained several activists involved in recent protests and warned that they would not tolerate any disruption of public order, which is widely seen as an attempt to discourage people from protesting.

Why are Serbia and China joining forces in construction projects?

By building roads, railways and other infrastructure, Serbia is trying to improve its transport links with neighboring states, while China is trying to strengthen its economic footprint in Europe.

Serbia and China negotiate agreements mostly at the state level without the participation of external bidders. Chinese state-owned banks often provide loans to finance these projects. The loans may come with conditions, such as the mandatory involvement of Chinese companies and their employees.

While such partnerships have brought billions of dollars in investment to the growing Balkan economy, questions about quality, safety and financial sustainability often remain, as evidenced by the collapse of the roof.

The Chinese companies involved in the reconstruction said the concrete canopy that collapsed was not part of their work.

___

Associated Press writer Jovana Gec contributed to this report.