Second man dies after explosion in Starcevo
The owner of the house whose yard the explosive device was set off in has died of his injuries, raising the death toll to two. Prosecutors in Pancevo have ordered forensic analysis.
- The death toll from the Starcevo explosion has risen to two after the homeowner, A.F. (1986), died of his injuries today.
- The explosive device was set off on the evening of July 17 in the yard of the house, while a group had gathered to socialize to music.
- D.P. (1995) died at the scene, and the seriously injured P.V. (1991) is still fighting for his life.
- The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Pancevo carried out an on-site inspection and ordered forensic analysis, alongside a joint police investigation.
The tragedy in Starcevo, near Pancevo, took a graver turn today. The owner of the house in whose yard an explosive device was set off two days earlier has died of his injuries in hospital. He is A.F. (1986) from Starcevo, the second person to die in the incident.
The explosion happened on July 17 in the evening. According to available information, a group of people had gathered in the yard to socialize to music when the blast rang out. D.P. (1995) from Banatski Brestovac lost his life at the scene.
A third person, P.V. (1991) from Starcevo, was also seriously injured. He was hospitalized and, according to the latest information, is fighting for his life. Doctors are working to stabilize his condition.
What is known about the investigation?
The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Pancevo issued a statement on the incident and set out the measures taken. Prosecutors carried out an on-site inspection and ordered forensic analysis to establish all the circumstances under which the explosion occurred.
The investigation is being conducted jointly with the Pancevo Police Department. Authorities are also taking further steps to clarify the origin of the explosive device and how it was activated. Official conclusions about the cause will not be presented until the forensic work is complete.
At this stage of the proceedings, the focus is on gathering evidence and establishing facts. The legal classification of the offense and any liability will be the subject of further work by prosecutors, in line with the findings of the forensic experts.
A timeline of the deaths
The first death was recorded immediately after the explosion, overnight between July 17 and July 18. The second followed today, when the homeowner died of the injuries he had sustained. An event that initially claimed one life has thus grown into a tragedy with two dead.
The forensic team worked in the yard of the house, where damage to the building and the fence is visible. Physical traces from the scene have been sent for analysis, a standard procedure in incidents of this kind.
For now there is no official information on whether anyone has been detained or questioned in connection with the explosion. Prosecutors have said the public will be informed of further developments once the conditions for that are met.
It remains to be established how the explosive device ended up in the yard and who bears responsibility for it. Will the results of the forensic analysis bring clear answers about the cause of this tragedy?
