Twelve individuals have tragically lost their lives and over fifty others sustained injuries in a series of pile-ups involving numerous cars and trucks on the Trakia motorway, a major east-west artery in Bulgaria. The chain-reaction collisions occurred near Zimnitsa, in southeastern Bulgaria, with eleven fatalities reported at the scene on Tuesday and an additional fatality occurring in a hospital later. The incidents were likely caused by dense fog that reduced visibility, according to officials. Prime Minister Rumen Radev has declared Wednesday as a day of national mourning following the incident.
In the aftermath of the collisions, rescue teams had to remove sections of the crash barrier to access those in need of assistance. Reports indicate that more than seventy vehicles were involved in the incident. The road administration director, Galin Kostov, stated that speeds were unsuitable for the conditions, which included wet road surfaces, and the motorway remains closed until it has been cleared. Emergency services transported the injured to hospitals in the Yambol, Sliven, and Burgas regions.
Prime Minister Radev cut short a news conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen upon learning of the incident and later visited the scene. One witness reported that "very thick fog" was responsible for the pile-up, while another stated that "many, many people died." The Trakia motorway serves as a critical connection between Bulgaria's capital, Sofia, and its Black Sea coast. Road authorities are urging caution and appropriate speed limits during such weather conditions to prevent further accidents.