At least 12 people died in two pile-ups on a foggy motorway in Bulgaria on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The crashes happened near the city of Yambol, on the road that links the capital, Sofia, with the Black Sea port of Burgas. About 50 vehicles were involved in the first reports. Dozens of injured people were taken to hospital.
01. Key takeaways
- At least 12 people died in two pile-ups on Bulgaria’s Trakia motorway on 10 November 2026.
- The crashes happened in thick fog near Yambol, in south-eastern Bulgaria.
- Early reports put the death toll at 10. Health Minister Katya Ivkova later said 12 people had died.
- About 50 vehicles were involved, and 46 people were taken to hospital.
- Prime Minister Rumen Radev declared Wednesday a day of mourning in Bulgaria.
02. What happened
Thick fog covered the motorway on Tuesday morning. Two pile-ups happened on opposite sides of the road, near the Zimnitsa junction outside Yambol. The first emergency call came at about 7:10 a.m. local time.
Cars and trucks crashed into each other in both directions. Some vehicles overturned. Others were badly crushed. Some people were still trapped in their cars when rescuers arrived.
The motorway was closed in both directions. Rescue teams, firefighters and ambulances rushed to the scene. Government aircraft were sent to help move the injured.
03. Why the fog was so dangerous
Officials said the fog formed very fast. Visibility fell from about 70 to 80 metres to around 10 metres in a short time. The road was also wet.
Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said the sudden change in weather was the main reason for the crash. Police said early checks point to low visibility, a wet road and speeds that did not suit the conditions.
04. The death toll rose through the day
Early reports said at least five people had died. The toll then rose to at least 10, Yambol governor Georgi Chalakov told the BTA news agency. About 50 vehicles were involved, he said.
Health Minister Katya Ivkova later said 12 people had died. Ten died at the scene. Two more died while they were being taken to hospital. She said 46 people were taken to medical facilities for treatment. Some later reports put the number of vehicles at 86 and the number taken to hospital at 51, with 13 in a critical condition.
The victims have not been named yet. Officials have not said what countries they were from.
05. Bulgaria’s roads are among the most dangerous in Europe
Bulgaria has the highest road death rate in the European Union. In 2025, it recorded 71 road deaths per million people, according to European Commission figures. The Trakia motorway is the main road between Sofia and Burgas. It is about 360 km long.
06. Facts at a glance
| What | Two pile-ups in thick fog on a motorway |
|---|---|
| When | Tuesday, 10 November 2026, from about 7:10 a.m. local time |
| Where | Trakia motorway near Yambol, south-eastern Bulgaria, on the Sofia to Burgas route |
| Deaths | At least 12 (10 at the scene, 2 while being taken to hospital) |
| Injured | 46 people taken to hospital; later reports said 51, with 13 in a critical condition |
| Vehicles | About 50 in early reports; later reports said 86 |
| Cause | Sudden dense fog, wet road and speeds unsuited to the conditions, police said |
| Official source | Health Minister Katya Ivkova; Yambol governor Georgi Chalakov, via BTA |
07. FAQs
How many people died in the Bulgaria motorway pile-up?
At least 12 people died. Ten died at the scene and two more died while they were being taken to hospital, Health Minister Katya Ivkova said. Early reports had put the toll at 10.
Where did the Bulgaria pile-up happen?
It happened on the Trakia motorway near Yambol, in south-eastern Bulgaria. The road links the capital, Sofia, with the Black Sea port of Burgas. Two crashes happened on opposite sides of the road, near the Zimnitsa junction.
What caused the crash?
Thick fog was the main cause, officials said. Visibility fell to about 10 metres in a short time. The road was wet, and police said some drivers were going too fast for the conditions.
Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera, TRT World, Associated Press. More from Bulgaria on Newsy: Iliana Iotova Wins Bulgaria’s Presidential Runoff, Preliminary Results Show. Also read: Russell Brand Jailed for 10 Years and 6 Months for Rape.
