Fog-hit pileups on Bulgaria's Trakia motorway kill 12 and injure 46

What happened

Two chain collisions struck the Trakia motorway near Yambol in southeastern Bulgaria on Tuesday, 10 November, one on the carriageway toward Burgas and the other toward Sofia. The first collisions were reported around 07:10 near kilometre 289. Dense fog cut visibility, and some drivers at the scene described it as less than 50 metres. Officials gave differing vehicle counts: the Yambol regional governor Georgi Chalakov told BTA that about 50 cars and trucks were involved, while the Sliven regional governor Mihail Kasherov said more than 70. Bulgarian officials also cited 86 vehicles, 63 on the Burgas side and 23 on the opposite side. Wrecks were overturned, crushed and burnt, and some vehicles were pinned beneath lorries.

Toll and injuries

Health Minister Katya Ivkova reported 12 people dead and 46 taken to medical facilities, with ten dying at the scene and two more while being transported to hospital. Her figures came after an earlier count from Prime Minister Roumen Radev, who said at the time:

“The toll at this point is 11 dead and 48 injured.”

Radev's figures, issued earlier on Tuesday, were lower on both counts than the later figures from the health ministry. Several hospitals in Yambol and Sliven mobilised medical teams to receive the injured, and officials warned that the situation was changing.

Roumen Radev, prime minister (earlier count)11

Katya Ivkova, health minister (later count)12

Roumen Radev, prime minister (earlier count)

11 people

Katya Ivkova, health minister (later count)

12 people

Data from the article text

Roumen Radev, prime minister (earlier count)48

Katya Ivkova, health minister (later count)46

Roumen Radev, prime minister (earlier count)

48 people

Katya Ivkova, health minister (later count)

46 people

Data from the article text

Rescue and response

Police, firefighters and ambulance crews reached the site, and the army has joined the rescue work. An Interior Ministry chief inspector told Nova TV that some people were still trapped inside their cars, and that rescue came first, with procedural and investigative work to follow. The government sent two aircraft with stretchers and medical teams, and military planes are being used to move the injured, including to hospitals in Sofia. A tanker truck carrying gas was among the vehicles, and firefighters acted to prevent a fire.

Prime Minister Radev cancelled his remaining engagements for the day to visit the scene, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was in Bulgaria for a visit, said she would cut it short:

“I would like to express my deepest condolences and I would like to pay respects to the rescue teams.”

Romanian Foreign Minister Dan Neculăescu confirmed that a Romanian citizen is among the injured and is receiving medical care. His identity, hospital and the severity of his injuries have not been made public.

Cause and road safety

Lyubomir Nikolov, general secretary of the Interior Ministry, told reporters at the site that fog was the most likely cause and that the chain began with a collision involving a bus. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola expressed condolences on social media and thanked the rescue and medical teams. Bulgaria recorded 71 road deaths per million inhabitants in 2025, the highest rate in the European Union, according to European Commission figures, compared with 19 in Sweden. Some blame the country's high traffic death toll on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and an inefficient justice system.