Twelve Dead and 50 Injured in Massive Highway Pile-Up in Bulgaria

A massive multi-vehicle pile-up on a major motorway in eastern Bulgaria has left 12 people dead and 50 others injured. The incident occurred on the A1 road, which connects the capital city of Sofia with the coastal city of Burgas, near the city of Yambol. Authorities reported that extremely thick fog was the likely cause of the collisions, which involved approximately 50 vehicles across six lanes of the highway.

Details of the Accident and Response

According to Lyubomir Nikolov, General Secretary of the Interior Ministry, the chain reaction began approximately 75 kilometres west of Burgas when a bus collided with a truck. Images broadcast by local media showed numerous crushed and overturned cars and trucks scattered across the road, with some vehicles veering off into the surrounding terrain. First responders, including police, firefighters, and ambulance crews, were dispatched to the scene where individuals were initially trapped inside their vehicles.

Healthcare Minister Katya Ivkova confirmed that 11 individuals died at the crash site, while another victim passed away after being transported to the hospital. The Interior Ministry stated that 50 injured people were taken to medical facilities, with authorities noting that several of the wounded required airlift transportation due to the severity of their injuries. Yambol Regional Governor Georgi Chalakov told state news agency BTA that around 50 vehicles were caught up in the pile-up.

National Mourning and International Reactions

In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Rumen Radev declared Wednesday a day of nationwide mourning. Describing the crash as a major tragedy, Radev stated that aircraft were deployed to evacuate the wounded and announced plans to visit the site of the collision.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was visiting Bulgaria on Tuesday, announced she would shorten her trip following the incident. She offered her condolences to the victims and praised the efforts of the rescue teams working at the scene.