At least 12 people lost their lives and dozens of others sustained injuries following a sequence of collisions across both directions of a Bulgarian highway on Tuesday, according to local authorities.
Accident Details and Weather Conditions
The incident began when a bus and a truck collided, triggering a massive pileup along the A1 highway close to Yambol in the southeastern part of the country. Ministry General Secretary Lyubomir Nikolov informed reporters at the scene that heavy fog likely triggered the crashes.
Regional Governor Georgi Chalakov estimated that approximately 50 cars and trucks were caught up in the collision. Health Minister Katya Ivkova reported that 10 individuals passed away instantly, while two additional victims succumbed to their injuries while en route to a medical facility. She added that 46 other people suffered injuries and were taken to hospitals.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev canceled his subsequent Tuesday schedule as he was hosting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Von der Leyen stated that she planned to shorten her visit in response to the tragedy.
Rescue and Investigation Efforts
Emergency services, including police officers, firefighters, and paramedics, rushed to the accident site on the A1 highway, which links the capital city of Sofia to Burgas on the Black Sea coast. Chief Inspector Todor Mishinev of the Yambol Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs told Nova TV during the response that victims remained trapped inside their vehicles.
Authorities deployed two aircraft equipped with medical teams and stretchers to assist, while casualties were transported to medical centers in nearby cities. Statistics from the European Commission indicate that Bulgaria recorded 71 road deaths per million residents in 2025, marking the highest fatality rate within the European Union compared to an EU average of 43 per million.
Critics and victims point to reckless driving, poorly maintained road infrastructure, and an ineffective judicial system as key drivers behind the nation’s severe traffic mortality rates.
