At Least 12 Killed in Fog-Linked Bulgaria Highway Pile-Ups

At least 12 people were killed in two Bulgaria highway pile-ups on the Trakia Motorway near the city of Yambol on Tuesday (Nov 10), Health Minister Katya Ivkova said, according to the BTA news agency.

Ivkova said 10 people died at the scene and two others in hospital, while 46 injured people had been taken for treatment. Prime Minister Rumen Radev had earlier put the death toll at 11, Asharq Al-Awsat reported.

The two crashes happened on opposite carriageways near the Zimnitsa junction, one heading towards Burgas and the other towards Sofia. Novinite reported that one occurred at kilometre 289 towards Burgas and the other at kilometre 294 on the Sofia-bound side, with the first emergency call made at about 7.10am.

Sliven Regional Governor Mihail Kasherov said more than 70 vehicles were involved, BTA reported, while other reports said more than 50 cars and trucks were caught up in the crashes.

Fog and Wet Bulgaria Roads Blamed

The Interior Ministry said dense fog had reduced visibility. Regional Road Administration director Galin Kostov also cited the wet road surface and speeds unsuited to the conditions, according to BTA.

Interior Ministry secretary-general Lyubomir Nikolov said the accident began with a collision between a bus and a truck on the Burgas-bound side, Asharq Al-Awsat reported. An eyewitness told Novinite visibility was no more than 30 metres.

Chief Inspector Todor Mishinev of the Yambol regional police directorate said: “Right now, the priority is rescue operations.” He told Nova TV some people were still trapped in their vehicles.

Injured Taken to Sliven, Yambol and Burgas

The injured were taken to hospitals in Yambol, Sliven and Burgas. Kasherov said 18 people were admitted to the Dr Ivan Seliminski Hospital in Sliven, three of them in intensive care, with helicopters on standby to fly them to Burgas.

A Spartan military transport aircraft was flown to Burgas to help move victims, according to the Defence Ministry, Novinite reported.

Radev Cancels Engagements After Tragedy

Radev described the crashes as a tragedy during a visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and said he had deployed aircraft to evacuate the wounded. He cancelled his scheduled engagements in Varna after meeting her, Novinite reported, and BTA said he also called off a Cabinet meeting.

Von der Leyen offered her deepest condolences and paid respects to the rescue teams, saying she would cut her visit short.

The identities of those killed have not been announced.

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At Least 12 Killed in Fog-Linked Bulgaria Highway Pile-Ups