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Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse

Coordinates: 45°15′56″N 19°49′46″E / 45.26556°N 19.82944°E / 45.26556; 19.82944
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Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse
Canopy of the main railway station in Novi Sad, Serbia, after the collapse
Date1 November 2024
Time11:56 (CET)
LocationNovi Sad railway station,
Novi Sad, Serbia
Coordinates45°15′56″N 19°49′46″E / 45.26556°N 19.82944°E / 45.26556; 19.82944
TypeStructural failure
Deaths14
Non-fatal injuries3

On 1 November 2024, the concrete canopy of the main railway station in Novi Sad, Serbia, collapsed onto the busy pavement below, killing 14 people and severely injuring three more.

Background

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Station building

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The canopy prior to collapse
Entrance to the Novi Sad railway station showing its front facade, including the overhanging portion of the roof and the suspended canopy.
August 2024: The canopy is the slab-like structure overhanging the entrance, suspended from the cantilevered roof via a series of V-configured tension elements, and joined to the building's pillars by a series of horizontal concrete struts.
Novi Sad railway station under construction
1963 or 1964: The canopy's reinforced concrete beams to which the tension elements were anchored, visible during the construction, along with the pillars.

The railway station was constructed in 1964.[1] The building was structurally advanced for its period, bold, and relatively unusual. The roof, made from concrete slabs, is corrugated for rigidity and cantilevers over the main entrance. A suspended structure was affixed to this extending portion of the roof using steel tension elements. This structure mainly consisted of massive reinforced concrete beams that overhung the entrance to act as a canopy. The canopy also joined the building's front columns, which are covered by a glass curtain wall, but was primarily a suspended structure. The roof is intentionally slender, and its slabs are thin relative to the more massive structure they support. The structural design concept of this part of the building was not based around durability, as suspending a heavy part of the structure from its slender roof, while a functional solution within a given time-frame, made the structure inherently prone to concrete degradation and overall fatigue.[2][3][4] Multiple experts suggested a service life of no more than 50 years for either the canopy or the particular materials that were used.[2][3]

The station stood in its original form for 57 years, without substantial renovations,[5] and by the early 2000s, it had become relatively decrepit and unhygienic, with some of its facilities and equipment out of operation.[6]

Renovation

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By the early decades of the 21st century, Serbian rail was outdated and dilapidated.[7][8] In 2013, stemming from China's Belt and Road Initiative, China, Hungary, and Serbia signed a memorandum of understanding to redevelop the Budapest–Belgrade railway[a] by introducing high-speed rail,[10] with the start of works originally scheduled for 2015.[11] Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city, is one of the cities along this stretch of rail line. An upgrade of the city's station infrastructure and renovation of the station building began in 2021, according to the technical documents[b] developed by the state-owned Saobraćajni institut CIP, while the engineering firm Utiber (headquartered in Hungary with a bureau in Novi Sad) was commissioned to conduct construction supervision,[13] as the main contractor in the group of five other companies.[14]

The station is listed with the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Novi Sad as a "property enjoying prior protection" (a particular built heritage preservation status in Serbia[15]).[16] Thus, prior to the start of renovations, the Institute issued conservation guidelines, which required that the renovation of the canopy overhanging the main entrance preserve its visual identity, and did not address the topic of its reconstruction, as structural engineering was outside the purview of the Institute.[16][17]

The station was renovated from 2021 to mid-2024.[1] The project included a total reconstruction of the railway platforms, including the platform underpass and canopy,[c] as well as renovations to the floors, walls, and the roof of the station building, including the replacement of the building's facade materials.[18]

The work was completed by a consortium of the Chinese companies China Railway International Co., Ltd (a subsidiary of China Railway Group Limited) and China Communications Construction Company, Ltd. (together referred to as CRIC-CCCC).[19] The station was initially ceremonially reopened in 2022, before that year's general election. Renovation work resumed after the election, and the station was reopened again on 5 July 2024.[20]

In January 2024, the local news outlet Portal 021 requested contracts and invoices related to the renovation project from the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure and Serbian Railways Infrastructure. This request was denied, as CRIC-CCCC objected to sharing contract details with third parties until the project's completion and confirmation of satisfactory work.[21][20]

Both CRIC-CCCC and Serbian Railways Infrastructure, the state enterprise which operates the building, subsequently stated that the front-entrance canopy was not reconstructed during the renovations and that it was an original part of the structure.[1][19] What work was done to it was merely a conservation treatment consistent with the Institute's guidelines, the official bodies stated.[22]

Collapse and rescue

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Fatalities[23]
  1. Milica Adamović (2008), from Kać
  2. Sanja Ćirić Arbutina (1989), from Kać
  3. Đorđe Firić (1971), from Kovilj
  4. Sara Firić (2018), from Kovilj
  5. Valentina Firić (2014), from Kovilj
  6. Stefan Hrka (1997), from Belgrade
  7. Mileva Karanović (1948), from Kać
  8. Nemanja Komar (2007), from Stepanovićevo
  9. Miloš Milosavljević (2003), from Knićanin
  10. Goranka Raca (1966), from Novi Sad
  11. Vukašin Raković (1955), from Bukovac
  12. Anđela Ruman (2004), from Stara Pazova
  13. Vasko Sazdovski (1979), from Sveti Nikole, North Macedonia
  14. Đuro Švonja (1947), from Stepanovićevo

On 1 November 2024, at 11:56 CET, the station's 35 m (115 ft)–long concrete canopy collapsed onto people walking and sitting underneath. Fourteen people were killed, and three others were injured. Thirteen of the dead were Serbian citizens and one was Macedonian.[24][25] The injured underwent amputations and were in serious condition.[26] Two of the three injured were rescued from the rubble several hours after the collapse.[27]

About 80 rescuers from multiple cities across Serbia used heavy machinery, including excavators and cranes, to pull debris off the collapse site.[1][28] Train departures at the station were suspended.[29]

Aftermath

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The Serbian government declared a nation-wide day of mourning for 2 November,[1] while the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and the City of Novi Sad declared 3 days of mourning in the city.[30][31] Citizens lit candles and laid flowers at Freedom Square [sr] and in front of the railway station.[32][33] The station was temporarily closed for an undisclosed period until the debris was removed, damage repaired and the main building made safe for use again.[34] All public rail traffic for Novi Sad from Subotica and Sombor were moved to Futog railway station, while traffic from Belgrade was moved to Petrovaradin railway station.[35]

Investigation

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The Novi Sad Higher Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation.[36] More than 40 people, including construction minister Goran Vesić, were subjected to questioning.[37]

Reactions

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Domestic

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Serbian Railways expressed regret over the disaster.[29] Government ministers, Prime Minister of Serbia Miloš Vučević and Đurić visited the disaster site.[38] President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić vowed "justice" for those responsible, while opposition parties accused authorities of corruption.[39] The following day, Mayor of Novi Sad Milan Đurić stated that forensic investigators are examining the debris, that the cause of the disaster is unknown, that the investigation needs to conclude before any talk of resignations, that the rest of the structure appears to be in normal condition, and appealed to citizens to "trust the state and the system", adding that the individuals responsible will be held accountable.[40]

After the collapse, many people on social media condemned the government for negligence. The main point of contention were claims by Serbian Railways Infrastructure that the canopy had not been reconstructed. Another point of controversy was the refusal of CRIC-CCCC to share documentation of the reconstruction publicly.[41] On 3 November, protests were held in front of the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure in Belgrade calling for the resignation and arrest of officials deemed responsible for the disaster.[26] On 4 November, construction minister Goran Vesić announced his resignation, pending acknowledgement by the National Assembly, scheduled for the next day, while stating that he "does not accept guilt".[42] On 5 November, protests over the disaster were held in front of the railway station and other locations in Novi Sad, leading to clashes with police and at least 12 people, ten of whom were police officers, being injured. Projectiles and red paint were thrown at the regional offices of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party and later at the city hall. At least nine people were arrested, and the incident prompted a visit by President Vučić.[43][44]

International

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A moment of silence is observed before a EuroLeague basketball match between Fenerbahçe and Partizan in Istanbul

Several officials from the European Union have sent their condolences,[45][46] such as the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi, EU Ambassador for Serbia Emanuele Giaufret, Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer, Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković,[47] President of France Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán,[48] Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of Greece Christos Staikouras[49] and the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[46]

Several other international officials have also sent their regards,[46] such as the Members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Denis Bećirović (Bosniaks) and Željka Cvijanović (Serbs), Minister of Communication and Traffic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Edin Forto, Minister of Communication and Traffic of Republika Srpska Nedeljko Čubrilović,[49][50] the Ambassador of Japan in Serbia Akira Imamura, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev,[51] President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović,[52] President of the Parliament of Montenegro Andrija Mandić, Minister of Transport of Montenegro Maja Vukičević,[49] Norwegian Ambassador to Serbia Kristin Melsom, President of Russia Vladimir Putin[53] and Chairman of the State Duma of Russia Vyacheslav Volodin.[54][55]

The Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro declared a day of mourning for 2 and 3 November, respectively.[49][56]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ intended to become a part of the future Budapest–Belgrade–Skopje–Athens railway[9]
  2. ^ these include:[12]
    • Conceptual design with feasibility study
    • Environmental impact assessment
    • Design for building permit
    • Technical execution design
  3. ^ This canopy is distinct from the canopy overhanging the main entrance.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Moench, Mallory; Delauney, Guy (1 November 2024). "Fourteen dead in Novi Sad, Serbia railway station canopy collapse". BBC News. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b
  3. ^ a b "Šefica hrvatske građevinske komore: Nadstrešnici je 2014. istekao rok trajanja" [Head of the Croatian Chamber of Construction: The Service Life of the Canopy expired in 2014]. www.index.hr (in Croatian). HINA. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Arhitekta za Euronews: Nadstrešnica Železničke stanice u Novom Sadu bila smelo i neuobičajeno arhitektonsko rešenje" [Architect for Euronews: The Canopy of Novi Sad's Railway Station Was a Bold and Unusual Architectural Solution]. Euronews.rs (in Serbian). 1 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Obnova Železničke stanice u Novom Sadu". Radio-televizija Vojvodine (in Serbian (Latin script)). 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  6. ^ Ćirić, Sonja (2 November 2024). "Novosadska železnička stanica: Skrojena prema potrebama čoveka". Vreme (in Serbian). Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  7. ^ Vučković, Branko (28 September 2013). "Železnice Srbije u sve lošijem stanju" [Serbian Rail in Increasingly Worse Condition]. Radio Slobodna Evropa (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 5 November 2024. transl. The extent to which the railway system in Serbia has fallen behind is best illustrated by comparing it with the European Union, where trains travel at an average speed of between 200 and 300 kilometers per hour, while the average speed on domestic tracks is just 44 kilometers, only a few kilometers faster than the first train that operated on the newly constructed Belgrade–Niš line in September 1884
  8. ^ Avakumović, Marijana (6 February 2019). "Za pruge planirano oko 1,3 milijarde evra" [About 1.3 billion euros planned for railways]. Politika. Retrieved 5 November 2024. transl. The Fiscal Council has repeatedly emphasized that the railway infrastructure is in poor condition and that more investment is needed in it
  9. ^ "Is China using Hungary as its bridgehead in Europe?". euronews. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  10. ^ Brînză, Andreea (28 April 2020). "China and the Budapest-Belgrade Railway Saga". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  11. ^ Vörös, Zoltán (4 January 2018). "Who Benefits From the Chinese-Built Hungary-Serbia Railway?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Modernizacija i izgradnja dvokolosečne pruge na deonici: Novi Sad - Subotica - Kelebija za brzine vozova do 200km/h". Saobraćajni institut CIP (in Serbian). Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  13. ^ Biberović, Dragana (3 November 2024). "Dug lanac odgovornosti za nesreću u Novom Sadu – šta kaže struka, a šta politika". Radio Television of Serbia. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  14. ^ Gočanin, Sonja (4 November 2024). "Među kompanijama koje su radile nadzor obnove pruge na severu Srbije i tri iz Mađarske" [Among the Companies That Supervised the Railway Renovation in Northern Serbia, Three Are from Hungary]. Radio Slobodna Evropa (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  15. ^ Закон о културним добрима [Law on Cultural Property] (Statute). Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia. Vol. 71/1994. National Assembly. 22 December 1994. Art. 27. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Zavod za zaštitu spomenika kulture: Brutalna je laž da nismo dozvolili sanaciju nadstrešnice, građevinski i statički proračuni nisu naša nadležnost" [Cultural Heritage Institute: It's a Brutal Lie That We Did Not Approve Restoration of the Canopy; Structural and Engineering Calculations Are Not within Our Competency]. Danas (in Serbian). 2 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  17. ^ "Zavod za zaštitu spomenika kulture: Laž je da nismo dopustili sanaciju nadstrešnice". Index.hr (in Croatian). 2 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024. Prema dokumentu koji su objavili beogradski mediji, Zavod je tražio sanaciju – zamjenu stakla i pločica – ali ne i rekonstrukciju nadstrešnice.
  18. ^ Conić, Igor (14 February 2022). "Šta se sve radi na Železničkoj stanici kako bi Novi Sad dočekao brzi voz". gradnja.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Chinese companies deny working on collapsed roof". n1info.rs (in Serbian). 1 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  20. ^ a b Petrušić, Sandra (1 November 2024). "Šta je dovelo do tragedije na železničkoj stanici u Novom Sadu" [What Led to the Tragedy at the Novi Sad Train Station?]. Radar (in Serbian). Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Obnova železničke stanice u Novom Sadu tajna: Kinezi tako žele, a ministarstvo poslušno" [Renovation of Train Station in Novi Sad a Secret: Chinese Want It That Way, Ministry Compliant]. www.021.rs (in Serbian). 26 January 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Hronologija novosadske tragedije". Vreme (in Serbian). 2 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  23. ^ "Imena četrnaest nastradalih na Železničkoj stanici u Novom Sadu". Radio Television of Serbia. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  24. ^ "Fourteen people killed in Serbia train station roof collapse". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Roof collapse at Serbian railway station kills at least 14". AP News. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  26. ^ a b "Protesters demand arrests over train station roof collapse that killed 14 people in Serbia". Associated Press. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  27. ^ "U tragediji u Novom Sadu 14 mrtvih, ostavka ministra Gorana Vesića". BBC (in Serbian (Latin script)). 1 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  28. ^ "14 Dead In Roof Collapse At Railway Station In Serbia's Novi Sad". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  29. ^ a b "Fourteen people killed in Serbia train station roof collapse". Al Jazeera. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  30. ^ "Dan žalosti na teritoriji Grada Novog Sada tri dana počev od sutra" [City of Novi Sad to Observe Three Days of Mourning Starting Tomorrow]. Radio Television of Vojvodina (in Serbian (Latin script)). 1 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  31. ^ "Proglašena trodnevna žalost na teritoriji Vojvodine" [Three Days of mourning declared in Vojvodina]. N1 (in Serbian (Latin script)). 2 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  32. ^ "Roof collapse kills at least 14 people at Serbian train station". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  33. ^ "Kako je izgledao skup ispred Železničke stanice: Tišina koja zaglušuje" [What it looked like in front of the train station: A silence that deafens]. 021.rs (in Serbian). 2 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  34. ^ "Železnička stanica Novi Sad dan posle nesreće: Policija dežura, uklonjen šut, pale se sveće" [Novi Sad Railway Station the day after the accident: Police watch, removed shot, candles lit]. 021.rs (in Serbian). 2 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  35. ^ "Srbijavoz: Izmena saobraćaja vozova, zatvorena Železnička stanica Novi Sad" [Srbijavoz: Train traffic change, Novi Sad railway station closed]. 021.rs (in Serbian). 2 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  36. ^ "Završena akcija spasavanja u Novom Sadu: Muškarac i dve žene izvučeni živi iz ruševina" [Rescue Efforts End in Novi Sad: Man and Two Women Rescued Alive from Debris]. NIN (in Serbian). 1 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  37. ^ "Serbian minister to resign over concrete canopy crash that killed 14 people". Associated Press. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  38. ^ "Veertien doden na instorten dak treinstation Servië" [Fourteen Dead After Canopy Collapses in Serbian Train Station]. nos.nl (in Dutch). 1 November 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  39. ^ "Serbia opens probe into railway building disaster that killed 14". Reuters. 2 November 2024.
  40. ^ "Đurić: Struka da uradi posao pa ćemo o ostavkama, građani da veruju u državu i sistem". n1info.rs (in Serbian). 2 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  41. ^ Kulačin, Nenad (2 November 2024). "Pad nadstrešnice u Novom Sadu – nesreća ili zločin?" [Canopy Collapse in Novi Sad: Accident or Crime?]. Al Jazeera Balkans (in Serbian). Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  42. ^ "Goran Vesić: Ujutru podnosim ostavku, ali krivicu ne prihvatam" [Goran Vesić: I am resigning tomorrow morning, but I do not accept guilt]. Danas (in Serbian). 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  43. ^ "9 people detained after unrest in Serbian city during protest over deadly roof collapse". Associated Press. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  44. ^ "Police fire tear gas at protest over deadly canopy collapse in Serbia". Associated Press. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  45. ^ "Zvaničnici EU i drugih država izrazili saučešće građanima povodom nesreće u Novom Sadu" [Officials from the EU and other countries sent their condolences to the citizens of Serbia on the following tragedy in Novi Sad]. 021.rs. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  46. ^ a b c "Zvaničnici EU i više država izrazili saučešće građanima Srbije povodom nesreće u Novom Sadu – Politika – Dnevni list Danas" [Officials from the EU and other countries sent their condolences to the citizens of Serbia on the following tragedy in Novi Sad] (in Serbian). 1 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  47. ^ "Saučešća Srbiji iz zemalja u regionu povodom tragedije u Novom Sadu" [Condolences to Serbia from neighboring countries due to the tragedy in Novi Sad]. JMU Radio-televizija Vojvodine (in Serbian (Latin script)). Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  48. ^ "МАЂАРСКИ ПРЕМИЈЕР ОРБАН ИЗРАЗИО САУЧЕШЋЕ поводом трагедије у Новом Саду: 'Наше мисли и молитве су уз породице жртава' – Dnevnik" [Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed his condolences on the following tragedy in Novi Sad: 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims']. dnevnik.rs (in Serbian (Cyrillic script)). 1 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  49. ^ a b c d "Министри Грчке, Црне Горе, БиХ и Републике Српске изразили саучешће поводом трагедије у Новом Саду" [Ministries from Greece, Montenegro, B&H and Republika Srpska expressed their condolences on the following tragedy in Novi Sad]. Politika Online. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  50. ^ Milatović: Crna Gora je mislima uz građane Novog Sada i deli bol zbog tragedije blic.rs 2. 11. 2024.
  51. ^ "Вучић примио саучешће од председника Казахстана поводом трагедије у Новом Саду" [Vučić accepted condolences from President of Kazakhstan on the following tragedy in Novi Sad]. politika.rs (in Serbian (Cyrillic script)). 2 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  52. ^ "Milatović: Crna Gora je mislima uz građane Novog Sada i deli bol zbog tragedije" [Milatović: Montenegro is with the citizens in Novi Sad in thoughts and shares the pain from the tragedy]. Blic. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  53. ^ "ПУТИН ПИСАО ВУЧИЋУ: Руски председник упутио саучешће Србији због трагедије у Новом Саду" [Putin wrote to Vučić:Russian President sent his condolences to Serbia due to the tragedy in Novi Sad]. NOVOSTI (in Serbian). Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  54. ^ "Predsednik Putin i Državna duma Rusije uputili saučešće Srbiji povodom tragedije u Novom Sadu" [President Putin and Russian State Duma sent their condolences on the following tragedy in Novi Sad]. TANJUG (in Serbian). 2 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  55. ^ "Putin izjavio saučešće povodom tragedije u Novom Sadu" [Putin Expresses Condolences Following Tragedy in Novi Sad]. Danas (in Serbian). FoNet. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  56. ^ "U nedelju dan žalosti u Crnoj Gori zbog tragedije na Železničkoj stanici Novi Sad" [On Sunday Day of Mourning in Montenegro Due to the Tragedy at Novi Sad Railway Station]. Blic.rs (in Serbian). 2 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
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