At Least 12 Killed, Dozens Injured in Multiple Crashes on Fog Hit Bulgarian Motorway
Two major crashes involving 86 vehicles, including several heavy trucks, shut down a key highway connecting Sofia with Burgas as authorities launched an investigation into the deadly accidents.
SOFIA, Nov 10: At least 12 people were killed and 46 others injured in two massive road accidents triggered by dense fog on a major motorway in eastern Bulgaria on Tuesday, government officials said.
The crashes occurred on the highway connecting the Bulgarian capital Sofia with the Black Sea port city of Burgas. Poor visibility reportedly contributed to two separate pileups on opposite carriageways at approximately 7 am local time.
Health Minister Katya Ivkova said 10 victims died at the accident site, while two others succumbed to their injuries while being transported to hospitals. Another 46 people were taken to medical facilities for treatment.
According to preliminary reports, around 86 vehicles, including a significant number of heavy goods trucks, were involved in the collisions. The scale of the destruction forced authorities to shut down the motorway in both directions, disrupting traffic along the important transport route.
Regional Governor Mihail Kasherov, who visited the accident site, described the devastation as unprecedented, saying he had never witnessed anything comparable.
Police have launched an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the deadly crashes. Initial assessments suggest that rapidly developing dense fog, slippery road conditions caused by wet surfaces and excessive speed for the prevailing weather conditions may have contributed to the accidents.
The incident also disrupted the official programme of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was visiting Bulgaria on Tuesday. Her host, Prime Minister Rumen Radev, had to leave their scheduled engagements to travel to the crash site and oversee the situation.
Meanwhile, Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova decided to cut short her participation in the Paris Peace Forum and return to the country following the tragedy, according to a statement issued by her press office.
Emergency services, medical teams and police personnel were deployed to assist the injured, manage the aftermath and investigate the circumstances of one of the country’s major motorway disasters.
