Massive highway pileup in southeastern Bulgaria kills at least ten

A massive pileup involving approximately 50 vehicles occurred on Tuesday, November 10, on a highway in southeastern Bulgaria. The collision, which took place on the A1 highway connecting Sofia and Burgas, was triggered by thick fog that severely limited visibility. Local authorities, including Yambol regional governor Georgi Chalakov, reported at least 10 fatalities, while other accounts citing the Prime Minister suggest the death toll may be as high as 11.

Emergency services, including police, firefighters, and medical teams, were deployed to the scene to extract trapped passengers and transport the injured to hospitals. While initial reports cited 27 injuries, the Interior Ministry later noted that up to 50 people were hospitalized. Some vehicles caught fire during the incident, leading to scenes of heavy wreckage across both sides of the roadway. Prime Minister Rumen Radev has described the event as a tragedy, ordering air transport for the victims and announcing plans to visit the site.

Rescue operations are currently ongoing, with local officials emphasizing that investigations into the specific causes and circumstances of the chain collision will follow once the immediate search and recovery efforts conclude. The accident coincides with a state visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.