A catastrophic multi-vehicle pile-up on the Trakia motorway in south-eastern Bulgaria has left at least 11 people dead and 48 others injured, triggering a massive emergency response near the city of Yambol. The disaster, which occurred on Tuesday morning, involved more than 50 vehicles, including heavy lorries, commercial vans, and private cars.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed the grim casualty figures while addressing the media, shortly after canceling his official engagements in Varna to coordinate the government’s response. The accidents took place on both carriageways near the Zimnitsa junction, effectively paralyzing the vital artery that connects the capital, Sofia, with the Black Sea port of Burgas.
The initial emergency call was placed at approximately 7:10 a.m. local time. Preliminary reports suggest that dense, heavy fog was the primary factor behind the carnage, with visibility reduced to as little as 30 metres at the time of the crashes. Drone footage broadcast by local media outlet Nova revealed a harrowing scene of twisted metal and wreckage, with several passenger cars crushed between massive freight lorries.
Todor Mishinev, head of the Yambol traffic police, described a frantic rescue operation as survivors were trapped within the tangled debris. Firefighters and emergency responders were forced to use hydraulic cutting equipment to extract victims from the wreckage, including those trapped inside tanker lorries.
The 48 injured individuals were transported to regional medical facilities in Yambol and the nearby city of Sliven. Health officials have indicated that several patients remain in serious or life-threatening condition, and local hospitals are currently operating under emergency protocols.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Ministry of the Interior dispatched top officials, including acting chief secretary Lyubomir Nikolov and Deputy Interior Minister Kaloyan Kaloyanov, to oversee the site. Health Minister Katya Ivkova is also on-site to monitor the treatment of the wounded and coordinate medical logistics.
The Trakia motorway remains closed in both directions between the Zimnitsa and Kabile junctions. Bulgaria’s Road Infrastructure Agency warned motorists that the closure would likely remain in effect for an extended period, as the scale of the wreckage and the ongoing investigation necessitate a complex recovery operation.
The incident has reignited concerns regarding road safety in Bulgaria, which is statistically ranked as having the most dangerous road network within the European Union. As rescue operations transition into the investigation phase, authorities are expected to provide further details regarding the exact sequence of the collisions. The government has pledged a full investigation into the factors that led to the motorway becoming a site of such widespread devastation.
Our journalists are continuing to cover this developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available from local authorities.
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