11 Die in 86-Vehicle Pile-up on Bulgaria's Trakia Motorway
- 11 people are confirmed dead following a massive 86-vehicle pile-up.
- Dense fog is suspected as the primary cause of the chain-reaction crash.
- Emergency crews are working to extract trapped passengers near Yambol.
- Prime Minister Rumen Radev has ordered military aircraft for medical evacuations.
- The European Commission has pledged 10 million euros to support rescue operations.
Eleven people were killed and between 48 (F34) and 50 (F1) were injured in a series of collisions involving 86 vehicles on the Trakia motorway in Bulgaria on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The accidents occurred on both carriageways near the Zimnica loop in the Yambol area during conditions of dense fog.
Of the 86 vehicles involved, 63 were on the lane toward Burgas and 23 were on the opposite side. Yambol regional governor Georgi Chalakov confirmed the death toll reached at least 11.
The two severe traffic accidents resulted in the total closure of the motorway near the Zimnica loop. Officials reported that no children were among the casualties.
The overlapping locations of the crashes are attributed to drivers becoming distracted by incidents that occurred nearby. Nikolov suggested that the accident on the lane toward Sofia likely occurred through the same mechanism.
Dense fog suspected as primary cause
Dense fog is the suspected cause of the chain-reaction crash. The Bulgarian Ministry of Interior is investigating the specific circumstances behind the tragedy.
The initial collision occurred on the lane toward Burgas when a truck blocked the road in front of a passenger bus. A wheat-carrying truck then struck the bus, followed by a passenger car hitting the rear of that truck.
All 11 fatalities were located on the same side of the motorway where the bus was travelling. Acting chief secretary of the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior Ljubomir Nikolov described this sequence of collisions.
Emergency response and rescue operations
Emergency services, including police, firefighters, and ambulance crews, arrived at the motorway site to assist victims. A total of 17 fire-fighting units were deployed to the scene.
Police and firefighters worked to extract these individuals and transport the injured to hospitals.
Fifty people were transported to hospitals following the crash on the A1 motorway in eastern Bulgaria on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.
Hospitalization and medical evacuation
Ten people died at the scene, and one more victim passed away later in hospital, according to Deputy Minister of Interior Kaloyan Kaloyanov. Regional hospitals treated the injured, with 28 people in Sliven, 16 in Yambol, and six in Burgas.
Injured individuals in Burgas were transported by a military Spartan aircraft. Several survivors remain in intensive care, though no children were among the dead or injured.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev orders air support
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev described the incident as a "tragedy". He ordered the deployment of aircraft to assist in the evacuation of injured victims and announced plans to visit the site of the accident.
European Commission pledges 10 million euros in aid
She announced that the European Commission will provide 10 million euros in funding to support search and rescue operations.
Traffic infrastructure and investigation plans
The police chief ordered the launch of the "Save" operation following the accident. A detailed investigation into the entire traffic incident will be carried out.
The police chief announced that authorities will examine the possibility of improving horizontal traffic signalling on sections of the motorway prone to fog.
Motorway closure and visual evidence
The Trakia motorway remains closed in both directions in the Yambol area, where visibility is still reduced, according to the Road Infrastructure Agency. Aerial footage of the scene has been released.
Local media footage shows vehicles piled on top of each other, with many severely damaged, overturned, or having veered off the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
- At least 11 killed in horrific 50-vehicle pile-up on Bulgarian motorway amid dense fog (videos and photos) - ProtoThema English (en.protothema.gr)
- Τραγωδία στη Βουλγαρία: Έντεκα νεκροί, πενήντα τραυματίες σε καραμπόλα - Ελεύθερος Τύπος (eleftherostypos.gr)
- Огласио се МУП о ланчаном судару у Бугарској (novosti.rs)
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