Protesters in Serbian cities block traffic, standing in silence for the victims of roof collapse

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Residents in several cities and towns across Serbia blocked traffic and stood in silence for 15 minutes on Friday to commemorate the 15 victims of a roof collapse in the country's north three weeks ago.

Hundreds of people came out into the streets eight minutes before noon, at the exact same time when the outer roof on the railway station building in the city of Novi Sad suddenly fell on Nov. 1, crashing down on the people standing or sitting below.

Initially 14 people were killed and three severely injured. One more person died on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 15.

The tragedy sparked anger and calls for answers. Many in Serbia believe that the roof collapse was the result of corruption and a lack of transparency that led to sloppy work in the renovation of the station building.

Prosecutors on Thursday arrested 12 people in connection with the tragedy, including a former construction minister, Goran Vesic. The arrests followed a wave of protests that have challenged the populist government.

This week opposition politicians blocked a court building in Novi Sad for three days in a row. President Aleksandar Vucic has described the protesters as “thugs and bullies” inflicting “terror” on ordinary citizens.

Serbia's Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic said Friday's traffic blockades amounted to “a classic abuse of democracy and civic liberties.”

The suspects detained on Thursday are facing charges of causing grave public danger and conducting irregular construction work, criminal acts that carry up to 12 years in prison. Opposition politicians behind the protests said they were skeptical and will continue to put pressure on authorities.

Opposition parties have insisted on the resignation of Serbia's prime minister and his government, as well as access to full documentation in the train station building and other infrastructure projects.

They are also seeking the immediate release of activists who were detained during recent protests, said politician Dragan Djilas.

The railway station building in Novi Sad was originally built in 1964. It was renovated and inaugurated twice in recent years as part of a wider railway agreement with Chinese state construction companies.

Prosecutors said on Friday they have started questioning the suspects, who were not officially identified. However, many of their names were leaked to the media.

The protest on Friday was held simultaneously in Novi Sad; the capital, Belgrade; the southern cities of Nis and Krusevac; and Kragujevac in central Serbia. Some people held banners with the names of the victims, or reading “corruption kills.”

Scuffles erupted at some gatherings in Belgrade with angry drivers who wanted to pass.

Workers inspect a train station after an outdoor roof collapsed in Novi Sad, Serbia, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People stopping traffic and standing in silence to commemorate the 15 victims of a railway roof collapse two weeks ago, demand accountability for the tragedy, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People stopping traffic and standing in silence to commemorate the 15 victims of a railway roof collapse two weeks ago, demand accountability for the tragedy, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People stopping traffic and standing in silence to commemorate the 15 victims of a railway roof collapse two weeks ago, demand accountability for the tragedy, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Stopped traffic is seen as people stand in silence in the middle of the road to commemorate the 15 victims of a railway roof collapse two weeks ago, demanding accountability for the tragedy, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People stopping traffic and standing in silence to commemorate the 15 victims of a railway roof collapse two weeks ago, demand accountability for the tragedy, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A bus driver watches stopped traffic to commemorate the 15 victims of a railway roof collapse two weeks ago, as people demand accountability for the tragedy, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A man watches from a bus window stopped traffic to commemorate the 15 victims of a railway roof collapse two weeks ago and demand accountability for the tragedy, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

VANG VIENG, Laos (AP) — A second Australian teenager who fell critically ill after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos has died in a hospital in Bangkok, her family said Friday, bringing the death toll in the mass poisoning of foreign tourists to six.

Holly Bowles, 19, had been in critical condition on life support following the poisoning in Laos more than a week ago.

“We are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace," her family said in a statement sent to Australian Network 10 and other Australian media. “We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people.”

An officer at Vang Vieng's Tourism Police office, who refused to give his name, told The Associated Press on Friday that a “number of people” had been detained in the case but that no charges have yet been filed. Staff at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which was still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed that the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning.

Tourist police offices are common in Southeast Asia and are set up specifically to help with incidents involving tourists and other foreigners.

The U.S. State Department on Friday issued a health alert for citizens traveling in Laos, warning of “suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, possibly through the consumption of methanol-laced alcoholic drinks," following similar alerts from other countries whose citizens were involved.

Australia's prime minister announced Thursday that a 19-year-old citizen, Bianca Jones, had died in a Thai hospital where she had been evacuated for emergency treatment, and that her friend — Bowles — remained in a hospital "fighting for her life."

A 28-year-old British woman, Simone White, also died in the suspected poisoning, the British Foreign Office said.

An American and two Danish tourists also died, though specifics about the causes of death have not been released.

New Zealand’s Foreign Ministry said one of its citizens was sickened in Laos and was a possible victim of methanol poisoning.

White’s family said they were “devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter Simone,” who had “the most wonderful energy and spark for life.”

“Our hearts go out to all other families who have been affected by this terrible tragedy,” the family said in a statement issued by law firm Squire Patton Boggs, where White worked as a lawyer.

Laos is a one-party communist state with no organized opposition and the government keeps a tight lid on information. In this case, officials have released almost no details.

The Foreign Ministry has refused to comment, and in Vang Vieng the small hospital where some of the victims are believed to have been treated initially referred all questions to the town's health office on the hospital grounds. The town health officials refused to comment, saying they lacked proper permission.

Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks at disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but can cause severe poisoning or death. It is also a byproduct of poorly distilled homebrew liquor, and could have found its way into bar drinks inadvertently.

Landlocked Laos is one of Southeast Asia’s poorest nations and a popular tourist destination. Vang Vieng is particularly popular among backpackers seeking partying and adventure sports.

Neil Farmiloe, a New Zealander who owns the Kiwi Kitchen restaurant in town, said a lot of his customers were very worried about the incident.

“I think it’s never happened before, so it is hopefully just a one-off incident," said Farmiloe, who has lived in Vang Vieng for 20 years. "It’s very sad all around. I’m sure nobody intended to cause injury, but it’s happened.”

The two 19-year-old Australian women who have both now died fell ill on Nov. 13 following a night out drinking with a group.

They failed to check out from the Nana Backpacker Hostel as planned and were found sick in their room and then taken to Thailand for emergency treatment.

Thai authorities confirmed that Jones had died by “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system.”

Duong Duc Toan, the manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, told the AP the day before he was detained that the two women had joined other guests for free shots of Laotian vodka before heading elsewhere and returning in the early hours of the morning.

Rising reported from Bangkok. Jill Lawless in London contributed.

A doctor comes out of the hospital where poisoned foreign tourists were admitted in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A woman cleans near the emergency section of a hospital where poisoned foreign tourists admitted in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Health officials leave Nana Backpackers hostel after investigation in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

The Nana Backpackers hostel wearing a deserted look in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

This photo shows the exterior of Bangkok Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

A foreign tourist rests near a swimming pool at Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A foreign tourist couple rest near a swimming pool at Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A woman with a bicycle walks pasts Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

The empty bar of Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A man walks past the tourism control police station in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Tourists ride on a motorbike near the tourism control police station in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Health officials check documents and ask questions to Nana hostel employees in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Health officials come out of Nana Backpackers hostel after checking documents in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

This photo shows the exterior of Bangkok Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

This photo shows the exterior of Bangkok Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)