Traffic Tragedy in Bulgaria Kills 12
At least twelve people were killed in a massive pileup on a Bulgarian highway on Tuesday morning. NOS reported the incident involved more than seventy vehicles on the A1 near Zimnitsa.
The tragedy unfolded in thick fog, according to multiple sources. The regional governor described the scene as “indescribable” and said he had “never seen anything like it,” NOS reported.
Truck Struck a Bus on the Highway
The fatal accidents began when a truck struck a bus on the six-lane Trakia Motorway between Sofia and Burgas. Transport Online confirmed that two separate pileups occurred, one in each direction of the highway.
Bulgaria, November 10, 2026 – Over 10 people died in a large-scale accident involving about 50 cars on the Trakia highway near the Bulgarian city of Yambol Source: Bulgarian News Agency – without sound pic.twitter.com/YigrMa0F97
One driver told NOS, “We were driving around 100 kilometers per hour when suddenly many stationary cars appeared. I braked hard, but couldn’t stop in time.” Another recounted pulling a man from a burning car, hearing collisions on the opposite lanes as “debris flew everywhere.”
The Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior cited limited visibility due to dense fog as a key factor. Transport Online and Vietnam.vn noted that wet road surfaces and excessive speed for the conditions may have also contributed.
Bulgaria, November 10, 2026 – 11 people died in a large-scale accident involving about 50 cars on the Trakia highway near the Bulgarian city of Yambol Source: Radio 999 BG/Facebook – without sound pic.twitter.com/wmBcAjjVBQ
Emergency Services Faced Extreme Challenges
Emergency services faced extreme challenges. Rescue crews had to remove sections of guardrails to reach victims in crushed or overturned vehicles.
Bulgaria’s health minister, Katya Ivkova, confirmed ten people died at the scene and two others succumbed to injuries in hospitals, Transport Online and Vietnam.vn reported. Nearly fifty people were hospitalized, with some in critical condition, according to NOS and VRT.
The entire highway was closed in both directions and is expected to remain shut for an extended period. The Road Infrastructure Agency cited the complex recovery operation involving numerous trucks and the investigation into the exact cause of the crashes.
Official Response
Rumen Radev was briefed on the disaster, the Times of Suriname reported. The EU’s Ursula von der Leyen, who was in Bulgaria for a meeting, shortened her visit with the premier and expressed condolences, NOS reported.
Drone footage reveals the horrifying scale of the tragedy on Bulgaria’s Trakia Motorway. Over 50 vehicles, including cars and trucks, were involved in the massive pile-up, leaving at least 12 people dead and dozens injured. One of Bulgaria’s deadliest road disasters. 😭 pic.twitter.com/NfyVJyGotH
A regional state of emergency was declared for the municipalities of Straldzha, Tundzha, and Yambol, Transport Online noted. A military transport aircraft was deployed to Burgas to aid in transferring the most severely injured patients.
Trakia Motorway Is a Major Route
The Trakia Motorway is a major route in Bulgaria, connecting the capital to the Black Sea coast. The stretch involved in the pileup is known for foggy conditions, particularly during the autumn and winter months.
Causes of the Pileups
- How many vehicles were involved in the pileups?
- According to multiple sources, including Transport Online and NOS, more than seventy vehicles, including trucks and a bus, were involved in the two separate collisions.
- What caused the multiple collisions?
- Officials cited dense fog with visibility under 50 meters as the primary cause. Wet road surfaces and drivers not adjusting their speed for the conditions were also contributing factors, Transport Online and Vietnam.vn reported.
- Is the highway open now?
- No. The Trakia Motorway remains closed in both directions as authorities conduct a complex recovery operation and a thorough investigation into the crash, the Road Infrastructure Agency stated.
Earlier coverage: 11 Die in Massive 50-Car Pileup Collision in Bulgaria
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