SOFIA — Dense, fast-forming fog on a major Bulgarian motorway triggered two massive multi-vehicle pileups on Tuesday, resulting in at least 12 deaths and leaving dozens of people injured, according to government officials.
The collisions occurred on the highway connecting the capital, Sofia, to the Black Sea port city of Burgas, forcing a complete closure of the road in both directions. Health Minister Katya Ivkova confirmed that ten individuals died at the scene, while two more succumbed to their injuries during transport to medical facilities.
Approximately 86 vehicles, including numerous heavy trucks, were involved in the crashes on opposite carriageways at around 7:00 a.m. local time. Ivkova noted that 46 other people were transported to hospitals for treatment.
Mihail Kasherov, the regional governor, visited the site and described the scene as indescribable, stating he had never witnessed devastation of such scale. Preliminary police investigations attribute the disaster to severely reduced visibility from dense fog, wet road conditions, and speeds inappropriate for the hazardous weather.
The tragedy disrupted high-level political visits. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was on a working visit to Bulgaria, had to adjust her schedule after Prime Minister Rumen Radev departed to oversee the emergency response at the crash site. Additionally, Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova cut short her attendance at the Paris Peace Forum to return to the country, her press office announced.