Fog Blamed for Deadly Pile-ups on Bulgarian Motorway

At least 11 people have lost their lives after a series of collisions involving dozens of vehicles occurred on the Trakia motorway in southeastern Bulgaria. The accidents took place in dense fog near the town of Zimnitsa, according to officials.

Health Minister Katya Ivkova confirmed that 10 individuals died at the scene, while another succumbed to injuries in hospital. The state news agency BTA reported that 46 others were injured in the crashes.

Over 70 Vehicles Involved

Mihail Kasherov, governor of the Sliven region, told journalists at the site that more than 70 vehicles were caught in the pile-ups. The first crash occurred on the eastbound carriageway, with officials pointing to thick fog as the primary cause. A second collision on the Sofia-bound side was likely also due to the fog, with drivers reportedly distracted by the initial accident.

The Trakia motorway, which runs from west to east across Bulgaria and passes through the capital Sofia, was closed following the incidents. Galin Kostov, director of the road administration, noted that speeds were inappropriate for the wet conditions and that the motorway would remain shut until it was cleared.

Rescue Efforts Hampered by Fog

Georgi Chalakov, governor of the Yambol region, said the first reports came in at 07:10 local time (05:10 GMT). Ambulances transported the injured to hospitals in the Yambol, Sliven, and Burgas regions. Chalakov added that rescue teams had to remove sections of the crash barrier to reach victims, and that helicopters could not be used for evacuation due to the fog.

Aerial footage captured by a drone showed the wreckage strewn across the motorway, barely visible through the thick fog. One witness who helped rescue a man from a burning vehicle described the conditions as having "very thick fog." He told Reuters, "I got out of the car, I ran forward and pulled that man out." Another witness recounted the horror, saying, "Many, many people died. As for me, there were four cars behind me - trucks - and I don't know how I got out or what happened, but in the end, thank God I'm still alive."

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who had been hosting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, cut short a news conference upon hearing the news. The government has expressed condolences to the victims' families and pledged a thorough investigation into the cause of the tragedy.