At least 11 dead in two pile-ups on Bulgarian highway

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 10 Nov, 11:49 · Archive

At least 11 people died in two separate collisions involving around 50 vehicles on a Bulgarian highway in heavy fog.

At least 11 people have died and around 50 have been injured in two separate pile-ups involving roughly 50 vehicles on the Trakia highway in southeastern Bulgaria on Tuesday. The crashes occurred near the city of Yambol, with one at kilometre 289 heading towards Burgas and the other at kilometre 294 near the Zimnitsa junction heading towards Sofia. The Interior Ministry said both incidents were caused by reduced visibility due to heavy fog in the area.

Police, firefighters and ambulance crews responded to the scenes, where many vehicles had been overturned, crushed or veered off the road. The injured were taken to regional hospitals in Sliven, Yambol and Burgas. Chief Inspector Todor Mishinev from the Yambol Regional Directorate said rescue operations were the priority, with investigative actions to follow once those were completed.

Prime Minister Rumen Radev cancelled his scheduled engagements in Varna and cancelled Tuesday's meeting of the Council of Ministers in response to the tragedy. The government sent transport planes to Burgas, with military aircraft also organised to help move injured people to hospitals in Sofia. The Mirror reports the death toll may have risen to 12, though the final figure will only be established once the clearance operation is complete.

How it is being reported

• Bulgaria highway pileup kills 12, dozens injured: PMAt least 12 people were killed and dozens injured in a series of crashes caused by thick fog in Bulgaria. Police, firefighters and paramedics were dispatched to the scene for the rescue operation.DW News · 10 Nov, 11:57
• Aerial footage reveals devastation after deadly Bulgaria highway crashDrone footage shows the aftermath of a massive pile-up involving dozens of vehicles on a foggy highway near Yambol, Bulgaria, where 11 people were killed and dozens injured, according to state media.Euronews · 10 Nov, 11:34
• At least 12 dead in horror 50-vehicle pile-up on foggy motorway in BulgariaTwelve people have been killed and 48 others have been injured after dozens of cars piled up on a major motorway in Bulgaria - this is a breaking storyThe Mirror · 10 Nov, 11:31
• At least 10 dead after two huge car pile-ups on Bulgarian highway involving 50 vehiclesOfficials say the two deadly crashes were caused by reduced visibility from heavy fogIndependent World · 10 Nov, 10:33

In this story: Bulgaria · Yambol · Trakia highway · Rumen Radev · Burgas · Sofia · Zimnitsa

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log