At least 12 people were killed and more than 40 injured in two massive accidents on the Thrace highway in southeastern Bulgaria. Dozens of cars and trucks collided in thick fog.
The accident occurred near the village of Zimnitsa in the Yambol region. The first reports of them arrived at 07:10 local time (08:10 Moscow time), said the regional governor Georgy Chalakov.
The governor of the neighboring Sliven region, Mikhail Kasherov, told reporters that more than 70 vehicles were involved in the accident.
According to the latest data, 12 people were killed and another 48 were injured as a result of the accident, the Bulgarian government reported.
Earlier, Bulgarian Health Minister Katya Ivkova said that 10 people died on the spot, another died in the hospital. The victims were taken to hospitals in Yambol, Sliven and Burgas regions, Chalakov said.
According to him, rescuers had to dismantle part of the road barriers to get to the victims. Due to thick fog, helicopters could not be used for evacuation.
Photo copyrightNOVA TV/Reuters
The first crash, which occurred in the eastbound lane, was caused by poor visibility due to thick fog, authorities said.
The second accident occurred in the oncoming lane leading towards Sofia. According to BTA, citing one of the officials, this accident was also facilitated by the fact that the drivers were distracted by the first accident.
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Due to the incident, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev was forced to interrupt a joint press conference with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, held in Varna. Together with Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov, he went to the scene of the incident.
President Iliana Yotova has suspended her participation in the Paris Forum and is returning to Bulgaria.
The Thrace highway starts in Sofia and runs from west to east of Bulgaria to Bugras, its length is 360 kilometers.
Road Administration Director Galin Kostov said the highway will remain closed until the clearing is completed.
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