Bulgaria Highway: 12 Dead in Fog-Related Pile-Ups
A collision between a bus and a truck on the A1 motorway triggered a multi-vehicle accident that killed 12 people and injured 46.
By Matthew Collins ·
At least 12 people died in two separate traffic accidents on the A1 motorway in eastern Bulgaria, Health Minister Katya Ivkova announced. The collisions occurred on the highway connecting Sofia and Burgas, leaving vehicles piled across all six lanes of the roadway. Ivkova reported that 10 victims died at the scene while two others succumbed to their injuries during transport to medical facilities. A total of 46 individuals were taken to hospitals for treatment.
The incident began with a collision involving a bus and a truck on the side of the highway, according to Lyubomir Nikolov of the interior ministry. Dense fog reduced visibility and likely contributed to the chain of crashes, Nikolov told reporters at the scene. Local media images showed cars and trucks stacked atop one another, illustrating the scale of the disaster that forced a complete closure of the road in both directions.
Police, firefighters, and ambulance crews arrived quickly to manage the emergency. Chief Inspector Todor Mishinev of the Ministry of Internal Affairs told Nova TV that some victims remained trapped inside their vehicles during the initial phase of the response. He stated that rescue operations were the immediate priority, with procedural and investigative steps scheduled to follow once extrications were complete.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev labeled the event a tragedy in a public statement. He deployed aircraft to assist in evacuating the wounded and planned to visit the crash site personally. Radev made these remarks while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was visiting Bulgaria. Von der Leyen announced she would shorten her stay to attend to the situation.
Von der Leyen expressed her condolences and acknowledged the work of the rescue teams. She said she wanted to pay respects to those on the front lines. The prime minister’s visit to the scene coincided with the ongoing medical response, as authorities continued to clear the highway and assess the conditions that led to the multi-vehicle accident.
The A1 road remains closed as crews work to remove the wreckage. The interior ministry continues to coordinate the cleanup and investigation. Officials have not yet released a final timeline for when the highway will reopen to traffic.
