The accident scene near Trakia,. Photo: Bulgarian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev on Tuesday declared November 11 a national day of mourning following one of the deadliest road accidents in the country’s history.
Radev described Tuesday as “a dark day for the whole of Bulgaria”, Bulgarian National Radio reported.
Just after 7 a.m., a chain-reaction crash on the Trakia motorway caused a massive pile-up in which at least 86 vehicles were involved, leaving 12 dead and 51 injured, according to reports.
“A truck [carrying grain] blocked the path of a bus carrying passengers, triggering the first chain crash,” said Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry Lyubomir Nikolov, adding that poor visibility amid dense fog was likely a factor.
Traffic on the motorway is halted in both directions for the day as rescue missions continue. The injured who have been rescued have been transferred to hospitals in Yambol, Sliven and Burgas.
Calls for blood donations to hospitals in Sofia and Sliven have been widely shared on social media.
“I would like to express my deepest condolences and I would like to pay respects to the rescue teams,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Varna, where she gave a joint briefing with Prime Minister Radev.
Their talks were cancelled as Radev headed to the crash scene. Von der Leyen’s visit is part of her round of talks in Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey designed to boost security in the Black Sea region following increased drone attacks.
Parliament in Bulgaria cancelled its sessions, delaying the vote on several draft laws. President Iliana Iotova also halted her participation in the Paris Peace Forum and announced that she would return to Bulgaria.
The accident has renewed debate about poor road safety in Bulgaria. According to the National Statistical Institute, in 2025 alone, 6,665 serious traffic accidents occurred, which left 465 dead and 8,295 injured.