At least eleven people have been killed and dozens more injured in a series of collisions on a major motorway in south-eastern Bulgaria, according to authorities. The incidents unfolded on Tuesday morning near the city of Yambol, on the Trakia motorway that connects the capital Sofia with the Black Sea port of Burgas.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who was in Varna at the time, confirmed the latest toll: “The toll at this point is 11 dead and 48 injured.” He cancelled his remaining engagements in the coastal city to return to Sofia and coordinate the response.
More than fifty cars, lorries and vans were involved in the pile-ups, which occurred on both carriageways a few kilometres apart near the Zimnitsa junction. The first emergency call was logged at around 7:10 am local time (8:10 am CET). Dense fog was reported as the primary factor, with one eyewitness estimating visibility at just 30 metres.
Rescue efforts amid twisted metal
Drone footage broadcast by Bulgarian outlet Nova showed a devastating scene: lorries and cars jammed across the asphalt, with fire engines and ambulances lining the road as rescue workers in hi-vis jackets moved between the wreckage. Closer shots, aired after a warning about sensitive content, revealed several cars crushed between heavy vehicles, with debris scattered across the carriageway.
Todor Mishinev, head of Yambol traffic police, said people were trapped, including in tanker lorries. Rescuers had to cut through metal to free them. Injured survivors were taken to hospitals in Yambol and the nearby city of Sliven; several are reported to be in a serious or life-threatening condition.
The motorway has been closed in both directions between the Zimnitsa and Kabile junctions. Bulgaria’s Road Infrastructure Agency said the closure would remain in place for some time due to the heavy vehicles involved and the ongoing investigation.
Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev dispatched the ministry’s acting chief secretary, Lyubomir Nikolov, and Deputy Interior Minister Kaloyan Kaloyanov to the scene. Health Minister Katya Ivkova was also travelling to the area and was due to brief journalists at the Dr Ivan Seliminski Hospital in Sliven.
The tragedy underscores a persistent problem: Bulgaria’s roads are ranked the most dangerous in the European Union. Despite repeated calls for improved infrastructure and stricter enforcement, fatal accidents remain alarmingly common. This incident is likely to reignite debate about road safety funding and maintenance, particularly on high-speed corridors like the Trakia motorway.
As rescue operations continue, the full scale of the disaster is still being assessed. The authorities have urged drivers to avoid the area and to follow official diversions. The investigation will focus on the role of the fog, but questions are already being raised about whether more could have been done to prevent such a catastrophic chain reaction.
