Sourced fact
The News
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced today, Wednesday, that 12 people have died in two major multiple-vehicle collisions on the Trakia highway in southeastern Bulgaria, involving more than 70 vehicles. Health Minister Katya Ivanova stated that 11 victims died at the scene of the accident on Tuesday near the city of Yambol, while another person passed away later in the hospital.
Sliiven Governor Mikhail Kachirov noted that thick fog reduced visibility and was the most likely cause of the first collision on the eastbound lane, while drivers were distracted by the initial crash when the second pile-up occurred on the route leading to the capital, Sofia. Adding that vehicle speeds were inappropriate for the conditions, which included wet road surfaces, Road Administration Director Galin Kostov confirmed that the highway would remain closed until it is fully cleared.
Preliminary reports indicate the accident occurred at 07:10 local time. Injured persons were transferred to hospitals in Yambol, Sliiven, and Burgas regions, while rescue teams had to remove sections of the safety barrier to reach those trapped. One witness who helped rescue a man from a burning vehicle stated that the thick fog was responsible for the disaster, while another survivor said he is still alive thanks to God after being behind multiple trucks in the chaos.
In the wake of this tragic accident, Radev announced on Wednesday a national day of mourning and cut short his speech at a press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen upon learning of the incident to visit the crash site immediately.
About 50 other people were injured in the pile-ups along a section of the Trakia motorway, officials have said.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
From an analytical perspective, this incident highlights the dangers of relying on highways in regions with volatile weather conditions without sufficient infrastructure to handle them; the thick fog turned the Trakia highway, which connects Sofia to the Black Sea coast, into a catastrophic scene.
In the broader context, officials' reports indicate that vehicle speeds were unsuitable for the wet and foggy road conditions, confirming the urgent need to enforce strict speed standards in bad weather and activate better early warning systems for drivers.
Road Administration Director Galin Kostov added that the highway will remain closed until it is fully cleaned, while Yambol Governor Georgi Chalakov noted that rescue teams had to cut parts of safety barriers to reach the injured, with helicopters unable to be used due to the fog's density.
This accident also underscores the importance of witnesses who contributed to saving survivors from burning vehicles; one witness expressed gratitude to God for his survival amidst the chaos caused by the collision involving a large number of heavy and light vehicles.
