At least 11 people have died and 46 others sustained injuries after two devastating pile-ups involving more than 70 vehicles on Bulgaria’s Trakia Motorway. Thick fog and poor road conditions are believed to have contributed to the crashes, which forced emergency teams into a major rescue operation.
Highlights
- At least 11 people were killed in two separate motorway pile-ups.
- A further 46 people sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals.
- More than 70 vehicles, including cars and lorries, were involved.
- Dense fog and wet road surfaces are among the suspected contributing factors.
- The motorway was closed as rescue and clearance operations continued.
Main Story
Two Pile-Ups Leave 11 People Dead
The deadly incidents occurred near the town of Zimnitsa in south-eastern Bulgaria, involving vehicles travelling in opposite directions along the Trakia Motorway.
Health Minister Katya Ivkova confirmed that 10 victims died at the scene, while another person later succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
Sliven regional governor Mihail Kasherov said more than 70 vehicles were caught up in the two separate crashes, involving both passenger cars and heavy commercial vehicles.
A total of 46 injured people were transported to medical facilities across the Yambol, Sliven and Burgas regions.
Thick Fog Suspected to Have Triggered the Crashes
Authorities believe extremely poor visibility was a major factor behind the first collision, which happened on the eastbound side of the motorway.
A second pile-up occurred on the carriageway heading towards Sofia. Officials suspect that drivers may have struggled to see through the fog and could also have been distracted by the earlier crash on the opposite side.
Road administration director Galin Kostov also pointed to driving speeds that were inappropriate for the prevailing conditions.
He noted that motorists were dealing with wet road surfaces, which may have made it even harder to control vehicles and avoid collisions.
The motorway was expected to remain closed until emergency crews completed their work and cleared the wreckage.
Rescue Teams Faced Difficult Conditions
Emergency services received the first reports at approximately 7:10am local time, according to Yambol regional governor Georgi Chalakov.
Rescuers encountered significant challenges while trying to reach trapped motorists. Some sections of the roadside crash barriers had to be removed to create access to people caught inside the wreckage.
The thick fog also prevented helicopters from being deployed to assist with evacuations, forcing responders to rely on ground transportation.
Those injured were taken to hospitals in several surrounding regions for treatment.
Survivors Describe Terrifying Scenes
Witnesses at the scene described a horrifying situation, with one person recounting how they helped pull a man from a vehicle that had caught fire.
The witness said they left their own car and rushed towards the burning vehicle to rescue the trapped motorist.
Another survivor spoke of the scale of the destruction, describing a frightening moment involving several trucks positioned behind their vehicle.
The survivor expressed gratitude at having made it out alive, despite being caught in the chaos.
Prime Minister Cuts Short Media Briefing
The tragedy also disrupted an official engagement involving Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who had been hosting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Following news of the mass collision, the prime minister brought a news conference to an early end.
Authorities are expected to continue assessing the circumstances surrounding the crashes as the rescue operation and investigations progress.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of driving in severely reduced visibility, particularly on busy highways carrying large numbers of vehicles.
Eleven lives have been lost, dozens more people are recovering from injuries, and families are facing devastating news. When fog makes visibility dangerously low, slowing down is not simply a precaution it can be the difference between life and death.
