On Tuesday, a catastrophic pile‑up on Bulgaria’s motorway between Sofia and the Black Sea city of Burgas claimed 11 lives and left 48 people injured. The crash, which occurred near the city of Yambol in thick fog, involved an estimated 50 cars and trucks, according to regional governor Georgi Chalakov.
Images released by authorities showed overturned and smashed vehicles, some burnt‑out, as emergency crews rushed to the scene. Prime Minister Rumen Radev told reporters that the toll was 11 dead and 48 injured and that he had cancelled his official engagements for the day while meeting EU chief Ursula von der Leyen.
Injured victims were transported to hospitals in nearby towns with two aircraft equipped with stretchers and medical teams. The accident highlights Bulgaria’s status as the EU’s most dangerous road network, with a 2025 fatality rate of 71 deaths per million inhabitants and a total of 456 road‑traffic deaths that year – a 5 % drop from 2024 and 27 % lower than in 2019.
“The toll at this point is 11 dead and 48 injured,” Prime Minister Rumen Radev said.
European Council chief Antonio Costa and Romanian Foreign Minister Dan Neculaescu both expressed deep condolences, the latter noting that one Romanian was among the injured. A 2023 parliamentary decree in Bulgaria now imposes stricter penalties for driving under the influence, including impounding vehicles until trial, even for first‑time offenders.
- Bulgaria and Romania, together with Croatia, remain among the EU members with the highest fatality rates per million inhabitants.
- Only five of the 27 EU states – including Bulgaria – are on track to meet the 2030 target of a 50 % reduction in road deaths and serious injuries.
- Bulgaria’s high accident rate is attributed to its role as a traffic gateway to the EU, a large proportion of vehicles over 20 years old, and poorly maintained roads.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
