At least 12 people killed in motorway crash in southeastern Bulgaria

What the report says

At least 12 people were killed and dozens were hurt in a motorway pile-up in eastern Bulgaria after thick fog caused multiple vehicles to collide, according to Al Jazeera’s report citing Bulgarian officials and state media. The crashes happened on Tuesday near Yambol, on the highway connecting Sofia with the Black Sea port of Burgas, and authorities shut the road in both directions.

Regional governor Georgi Chalakov said an estimated 50 cars and trucks were involved, while Health Minister Katya Ivkova said 10 people died at the scene and two more later died while being transported to hospital. Ivkova said 46 people were taken to medical facilities for treatment. Emergency crews worked at the site and the government sent two aircraft fitted with stretchers and medical teams to help move the injured.

Prime Minister Rumen Radev called the incident a tragedy and cancelled scheduled events for later in the day, including official engagements during a visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The crash highlights long-running concerns about road safety in Bulgaria, which the European Commission has identified as having the highest road fatality rate in the EU in 2025, and about the hazards of fog and heavy traffic on major motorways.