11.11.2026 04:10
Two separate chain-reaction accidents occurred due to dense fog on the Thrace Motorway connecting Sofia to Burgas in Bulgaria. In the accidents involving 86 vehicles, 11 people lost their lives and 51 people were injured. It was stated that the accident began with a collision between a bus and a truck, and Prime Minister Rumen Radev declared November 11 a national day of mourning.
In eastern Bulgaria, two separate chain-reaction traffic accidents occurred on the Thrace (A1) Highway connecting the capital Sofia to Burgas due to dense fog. Bulgarian Health Minister Katya Ivkova reported that 11 people died and 51 were injured in the accidents involving 86 vehicles.
BUS AND TRUCK COLLIDED, THEN OTHERS FOLLOWED
The accidents occurred around 07:00 local time near the Zimnitsa Junction near the city of Yambol. In footage reported by local media, it was seen that many cars and trucks were involved in the accident that spread across six lanes of the highway, some vehicles overturned, and others went off the road.
Secretary General of the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior Lyubomir Nikolov stated to journalists at the accident site that the probable cause of the accident was dense fog. Nikolov said the chain-reaction accident began when a bus traveling toward Burgas collided with a truck.
Chief Inspector Todor Mishinev of the Yambol Regional Interior Directorate also said in a statement to Nova TV that some people were still trapped in vehicles, adding, 'Our priority right now is rescue operations. After these are completed, judicial and investigative procedures will be carried out.'
Ambulances from Yambol, Sliven, and Burgas and a medical helicopter were dispatched to the accident site, while 14 firefighting teams worked in the area. The highway was closed to traffic in both directions, and the BG-ALERT emergency warning system was activated to inform drivers.
CARGO PLANES ASSIGNED FOR THE INJURED
Prime Minister Rumen Radev described the accident as a 'tragedy.' Noting that the injured were mainly in hospitals in Sliven and Yambol, Radev announced that two Spartan-type cargo aircraft equipped with medical teams had been deployed to Bezmer Air Base near Yambol.
NATIONAL MOURNING IN THE COUNTRY TODAY
Radev announced that national mourning was declared on November 11 in memory of those who lost their lives. The Central Election Commission canceled the ceremony planned for presenting the certificates of election to the elected president and vice president. President Iliyana Yotova, who was in France for the Paris Peace Forum, also decided to cut her program short and return to her country.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was in Bulgaria for talks, announced that she would cut her visit short, saying, 'I want to convey my deepest condolences and pay my respects to the rescue teams.' European Council President Antonio Costa also conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims.