At least 12 dead in massive pileup on Trakia (Burgas–Sofia) motorway

At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured in a multi-vehicle crash on the Trakia motorway connecting Sofia and the Black Sea port of Burgas, authorities said on Tuesday.

The deputy interior minister reported that dense fog contributed to two separate chain collisions that involved a total of 86 vehicles — 63 travelling toward Burgas and 23 toward Sofia. Emergency services moved dozens of casualties to hospitals across three regions.

Investigation and road conditions

Deputy Interior Minister Kaloyan Kaloyanov gave a preliminary account: "According to the initial information, the first incident occurred in the direction of Burgas. A total of 86 vehicles were involved in the accident in both directions of the motorway — 63 moving towards Burgas and 23 towards Sofia. Fifty casualties were reported, who are distributed in hospitals in three different regions: 28 people in the Sliven region, 16 in the Yambol region and 6 in the Burgas region. Ten people died at the scene, and one person died later in a hospital in Sliven."

Police opened an inquiry but said early indications point to sharply reduced visibility from sudden dense fog, wet road surfaces and speeds that were not suitable for the conditions.

Prime Minister Rumen Radev expressed condolences to the victims' families. Health Minister Katya Ivkova announced that the motorway was closed in both directions while recovery and rescue operations continued. The incident forced European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was on a working visit to Bulgaria that day, to alter her schedule after Radev left to visit the crash site.

Photo: press material from the event