Major accident on the Thracian highway near Zimnitsa: 11 dead, military aviation mobilised

Major disaster on the Thracian highway: first hours' summary

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev officially announced that 11 people died and 48 others were injured in two massive chain collisions on the Thracian highway near the village of Zimnitsa. The tragedy led to the cancellation of government events and the immediate mobilisation of emergency services, military aviation, and medical teams.

Radev released this information during a briefing in Varna after a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He explained that he learned of the accidents while on a government plane en route to the city. The Prime Minister thanked von der Leyen for understanding the change in his visit schedule and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

«Я хотів би подякувати пані фон дер Ляєн за її розуміння щодо скорочення нашої запланованої сьогодні програми. Ми отримали новини про трагедію на трасі Тракія, яка забрала стільки життів, перебуваючи на борту урядового літака, що летів до Варни» (I would like to thank Mrs von der Leyen for her understanding regarding the shortening of our planned programme for today. We received news of the tragedy on the Thracian highway, which took so many lives, while on board a government plane flying to Varna), Radev stated.

Mobilisation of military resources and patient evacuation

The head of government ordered Interior Minister Ivan Demedzhiev to immediately travel to Burgas on a government plane. This aircraft is to be used to transport the injured to hospitals in Sofia if necessary. Two military Spartan transport aircraft were also sent to Burgas, carrying medical teams and stretchers.

Since most of the injured were hospitalised in Sliven and Yambol, the Ministry of Defence ordered two aircraft to be moved from Burgas to the Bezmer air base near Yambol. Radev emphasised that preparations to evacuate seriously injured patients from Sliven, Yambol, and Burgas to medical facilities in the capital are ongoing.

«Негайно після завершення моєї зустрічі з пані фон дер Ляєн, міністр оборони та я вирушимо до Бургаса, Слівена та Ямбола» (Immediately after the end of my meeting with Mrs von der Leyen, the Defence Minister and I will go to Burgas, Sliven, and Yambol), the Prime Minister added, intending to personally visit the affected areas.

In connection with the disaster, Radev cancelled all his subsequent events in Varna, as well as the scheduled Council of Ministers meeting. The government plane has already been sent to Burgas to support the transfer of patients to Sofia.

EU reaction and government measures

Ursula von der Leyen also expressed condolences during the briefing, offering sympathy to the families of the victims and the Bulgarian people.

«Я висловлюю найглибше співчуття родинам тих, хто загинув, та всьому болгарському народу. Моя повага — рятувальним командам! Ви переживаєте трагічний момент, і я цілком розумію зміни в графіку мого візиту» (I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who died and to the entire Bulgarian people. My respect goes to the rescue teams! You are going through a tragic moment, and I fully understand the changes in my visit schedule), said the European Commission President.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investment, and Industry Aleksandar Pulev stated that the government had mobilised all available resources to help the victims. Speaking at an event organised by the Competition Protection Commission, he announced that all public events had been cancelled and an emergency response team had been formed.

«Зі сьогоднішнього ранку держава мобілізувала всі свої ресурси, щоб допомогти тим, хто опинився в біді на трасі Тракія. Усе, що має крила, — у повітрі; усе, що має колеса, — на дорозі. Ми скасували всі публічні заходи, засідання Ради міністрів не відбудеться. Ми створили кризову групу» (Since this morning, the state has mobilised all its resources to help those in trouble on the Thracian highway. Everything with wings is in the air; everything with wheels is on the road. We have cancelled all public events, the Council of Ministers meeting will not take place. We have created a crisis group), Pulev said.

He later confirmed that the emergency team was formed after two major accidents: one occurred on the lanes towards Sofia, and the other on the side leading to Burgas. The BG-ALERT system was activated.

Circumstances of the crash: fog and chain reaction

Sliven Regional Governor Mikhail Kasharov reported that more than 70 vehicles were involved in the chain collisions near Zimnitsa. According to him, the initial accident occurred when two cars collided and caught fire. Subsequent collisions then took place on both sides of the highway. Kasharov was at the scene and pointed to dense fog as the most likely cause of the disaster.

He added that no vehicle crossed the central protective barrier into the oncoming lane, and rapid response teams delivered almost all the injured to medical facilities.

Law enforcement agencies later reported that 86 cars were involved in the accident: 63 on the lanes towards Burgas and 23 on the oncoming side. The number of victims is estimated at 50, distributed across three regions: 28 in Sliven, 16 in Yambol, and 6 in Burgas.

Acting Secretary-General of the Ministry of Interior Lyubomir Nikolov stated that 10 people died at the scene, and one more died from injuries sustained in Sliven Hospital. In a separate update, Health Minister Katsia Ivkova reported that 10 people died in the accidents, and two others later died in hospitals in Yambol and Sliven.

Nikolov explained that the first accident occurred on the lanes towards Burgas, where a truck blocked the path of a bus with passengers. A second truck, carrying grain, then became involved in the collision, after which a car hit its rear.

According to him, all the victims were travelling towards Burgas. Witnesses told authorities that visibility was initially around 70–80 metres, then dropped sharply to approximately 10 metres.

Nikolov added that the accident towards Sofia was likely a consequence of the first collision, as drivers on the other side of the highway may have been distracted by the serious accident on the Burgas lanes.

«Ми припускаємо, що аварія в напрямку Софії сталася таким самим чином. Те, що обидві події відбулися в одному місці, імовірно, пов'язане з тим, що водії відволіклися, побачивши масштабну аварію на смугах, що ведуть до Бургаса» (We assume that the accident towards Sofia happened in the same way. The fact that both events occurred in the same place is likely related to drivers being distracted by seeing the massive accident on the lanes leading to Burgas), he said.

Warning to drivers and road surface proposals

The Acting Secretary-General of the Ministry of Interior added that drivers should adapt their driving style to prevailing road, seasonal, and weather conditions. The fog left the asphalt very wet and likely damp, so drivers should have maintained a sufficient distance and complied with speed limits.

Nikolov also proposed improving road markings in areas where dense fog is frequently observed, drawing on European practice where high-efficiency reflective markings are used instead of ordinary white paint. He did not confirm reports that a police officer was injured.

In a previous statement, the Acting Secretary-General said that witnesses described visibility dropping from 70–80 metres to just 10 metres. He also confirmed that there were no children among the dead or injured.

Nikolov reported that immediately after receiving the report of the accident, he ordered the launch of "Operation Rescue". Personnel from neighbouring regions were mobilised: 15 fire engines, hundreds of police officers, and emergency medical teams were sent to the scene.

The Ministry of Defence reported that more than 20 servicemen from the 42nd Mechanised Battalion, based in Yambol, were involved in the assistance. The Ministry also separately sent a Spartan aircraft from Burgas for the possible evacuation of the injured.

The Road Technical Assistance Union organised free support for the victims. More than 50 teams headed to the scene to position themselves on both sides of the traffic jam. The operation was coordinated with the Yambol Regional Governor and the Ministry of Interior.

Witness account and condition of injured in hospitals

A witness described the conditions and the rescue of a person from a burning truck cabin during a live broadcast on Nova TV.

«Там був дуже густий туман. Аварія сталася попереду. Раптом усе почорніло. Я вийшов зі свого автомобіля і пішов уперед. Використовуючи домкрат, я розбив вікно горячої кабіни та витягнув звідти людину. Потім я почув, як на зустрічній смузі починають зіткнутися автомобілі. Через туман видимість становила не більше 50 метрів» (There was very dense fog. The accident happened ahead. Suddenly everything turned black. I got out of my car and walked forward. Using a jack, I broke the window of the burning cabin and pulled a person out. Then I heard cars starting to collide on the oncoming lane. Due to the fog, visibility was no more than 50 metres), the witness told Nova TV.

The hospital in Sliven reported that 16 injured in the highway accidents were delivered to the Dr. Ivan Selimski Multidisciplinary Hospital of Active Therapy. Four were hospitalised in intensive care, three in the neurosurgery department, and doctors were assessing the condition of other patients.

Chief Director of the Hospital Dr. Vasil Petrov stated that medical teams are working effectively and providing necessary care. Scheduled surgeries were suspended immediately after receiving news of the accident, and staff were ordered to be on standby to receive patients brought by ambulance.

Health Minister Katsia Ivkova later reported that 46 injured were delivered to hospitals across the country. She gave an updated death toll of 12, including 10 who died at the scene and two who later died in hospitals in Yambol and Sliven.

18 patients were delivered to the hospital in Sliven, Ivkova said. Thirteen were hospitalised, one was discharged after examination, and the remaining patients are being treated by medical teams. The most severe patient is undergoing stabilisation, and doctors have not yet decided on the next stage of treatment, the hospital director said.

Other patients were delivered to hospitals in other parts of the region. Eight were hospitalised at the Military Medical Academy, seven at two hospitals in Burgas, and 12 at a hospital in Yambol. Evacuation of the most severe patients to Sofia was being prepared, including a flight on a government plane. Hospitals in Sofia, Plovdiv, Kazanlak, and Stara Zagora were also ready to receive patients if their doctors deemed a flight necessary.

Ivkova emphasised the coordination between medical teams and the ministries of interior and defence during the emergency response.

The Emergency Medical Aid Centre in Burgas separately reported that 32 people were injured in the accidents. Four were hospitalised in two city hospitals, and a fifth patient was to be delivered.

Dr. Asen Kargiev, Director of the Burgas Emergency Centre, said that five injured were delivered to the city by ambulance. One was hospitalised at "Deva Maria" Hospital, three at "Heart and Brain" Hospital, and another patient, likely with a chest injury, was being transported and would likely be hospitalised at "Heart and Brain" as well.

Three patients at "Heart and Brain" were not in life-threatening condition, the hospital reported. A 42-year-old man receiving treatment in the surgical department of "Deva Maria" was in very critical condition. Another person with a chest injury was expected to be delivered to "Heart and Brain" for treatment.

Call for donors and highway closure

The Dr. Ivan Selimski Hospital in Sliven also issued an urgent call for blood donors, as some patients require emergency transfusions. Qualified donors were asked to donate blood daily from 8:00 to 14:30 at the Hospital Blood Centre, on the first floor of Diagnostic and Consultative Centre 2, formerly known as the Third Polyclinic.

Sliven Mayor Stefan Radev said that emergency medical teams, police patrols, and fire engines were sent to the scene and responded to the call very quickly.

«Від імені муніципалітету та особисто від свого імені я висловлюю щире співчуття рідним загиблих. Бажаю пораненим швидкого та повного одужання, а їхнім родинам сили та мужності в цей важкий час» (On behalf of the municipality and personally, I express sincere condolences to the relatives of the deceased. I wish the injured a quick and full recovery, and their families strength and courage during this difficult time), the mayor said.

The Thracian highway is closed in both directions in the Yambol area, where visibility remained poor, the Road Infrastructure Agency reported. Its teams and all emergency services are on site. Since numerous trucks were involved in the accident and investigative actions are ongoing, the agency warns that the closure will last for a long time.

For traffic towards Burgas, a local detour is routed through Gorno-Alexandrov, Zimnitsa, Lozenets, Straldzha, Vents, Ognyan, Iskra, Karnobat, and Dragantsi. Designated roads: I-7 between Gorno-Alexandrov and Zimnitsa; I-6 (also known as E-773) between Gorno-Alexandrov, Lozenets, Straldzha, Vents, Ognyan, Iskra, and Karnobat; III-7957 through Karnobat; and III-795 between Dragantsi and Karnobat.

For traffic towards Sofia, the local detour passes through Dragantsi, Karnobat, Sliven, Topolchane, Kaloiano, Glushnik, Blatets, Dragodanovo, Trapoklovo, Gorno-Alexandrov, Straldzha, Lozenets, Vents, Ognyan, Iskra, Gergevets, and Krushare, before reaching Hadzhidimitrovo. Routes include III-795 between Dragantsi and Karnobat, III-7957 through Karnobat, I-6/E-773 between Sliven and Karnobat via the listed settlements, and II-53 between Gergevets, Sliven, Krushare, and Hadzhidimitrovo.

The agency also provided longer alternative routes for drivers approaching the closed section from a greater distance.

For travel towards Burgas, the recommended route starts in Hadzhidimitrovo and continues through Drazhevo, Yambol, Kukorevo, Stara Reka, Kozarevo, Kalchevo, Pobeda, Chelnik, Tamarino, Voynika, Parvenets, Zornitsa, Radoinovo, Malina, Draka, Zagortsy, Svetlina, Sredets, Drachevo, Debelt, Konstantinovo, and Chorniy Vrah, before reaching Burgas. It follows II-53 between Hadzhidimitrovo, Drazhevo, Yambol, Kukorevo, Stara Reka, Kozarevo, Kalchevo, Pobeda, Chelnik, Tamarino, Voynika, Parvenets, Zornitsa, Radoinovo, Malina, Draka, Zagortsy, and Sredets, then II-79 between Sredets, Drachevo, Debelt, Konstantinovo, Chorniy Vrah, and Burgas.

The longer detour towards Sofia starts in Dragantsi and passes through Karnobat, Samuilovo, Gergevets, Sliven, Topolchane, Kaloiano, Glushnik, Blatets, Dragodanovo, Trapoklovo, Gorno-Alexandrov, Straldzha, Lozenets, Vents, Ognyan, Iskra, Kovachite, Zlati Voinvoda, Staro Selo, Koyovo, Nauchene, Kamenovo, Sadevo, Nova Zagora, Ezero, Stoil Voinvoda, and Dyadovo. Listed roads: III-795 between Dragantsi and Karnobat; I-6/E-773 from Samuilovo through Gergevets, Sliven, Topolchane, Kaloiano, Glushnik, Blatets, Dragodanovo, Trapoklovo, Gorno-Alexandrov, Straldzha, Lozenets, Vents, Ognyan, and Iskra to Karnobat; II-66/E-773 between Sliven, Kovachite, Zlati Voinvoda, Staro Selo, Koyovo, Nauchene, Kamenovo, Sadevo, and Nova Zagora; II-55 through Nova Zagora; and III-554 between Nova Zagora, Ezero, Stoil Voinvoda, and Dyadovo.

The Road Infrastructure Agency reported that drivers and transport companies can check current road conditions via its online system at traffic.api.bg or by calling +359 700 130 20 at any time.