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A bus and a truck collided on the A1 motorway near Yambol on Tuesday, setting off a pile-up of about 50 vehicles in dense fog. Officials say at least 12 people died and dozens were hurt.
At least 12 people were killed and dozens more injured on Tuesday 10 November 2026 in a series of crashes on a motorway in south-eastern Bulgaria, according to Bulgarian officials quoted by DW and Al Jazeera.
DW reports that, according to the interior ministry, a bus and a truck collided on the A1 motorway near the city of Yambol, which led to a pile-up. The road connects the capital, Sofia, with Burgas on the Black Sea. Al Jazeera describes multiple crashes involving around 50 vehicles in dense fog and poor visibility, which it says are believed to have contributed. The ministry’s general secretary, Lyubomir Nikolov, told reporters at the site that fog was the likely cause. Yambol’s regional governor, Georgi Chalakov, put the number of cars and trucks involved at about 50.
Health Minister Katya Ivkova said ten people died at the scene and two others died while being taken to hospital. She said 46 people were injured and taken to medical centres. DW says authorities sent two aircraft carrying medical teams and stretchers, and the injured were taken to hospitals in nearby cities. A police chief inspector told Nova TV that some people were still trapped in their vehicles at that time and that the priority was rescue, with investigation to follow.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev was welcoming European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen when the news came. He cleared his schedule for later in the day, and DW reports that von der Leyen said she would cut her visit short.
DW adds background from European Commission figures: Bulgaria had 71 road deaths per million people in 2025, the highest rate in the European Union, where the average is 43. It says victims and campaigners blame reckless driving, neglected roads and a slow justice system for the high toll.
The figures reported so far came from officials in the first hours after the crash and may change as rescue work finishes and the investigation begins.
The crash is one of the deadliest road accidents in Bulgaria in recent memory by the number of vehicles involved, and it comes as the country already has the worst road safety record in the European Union.
The death and injury counts are early official figures and could change. Fog is described as the likely cause, but no investigation findings have been published. Al Jazeera's page was a short video summary, and Sky News reported the same event but its page could not be opened.
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