Multiple fatalities reported after massive multi-vehicle pile-up in Bulgaria

A severe multi-vehicle collision occurred on Bulgaria's Trakia highway connecting Sofia and Burgas on Tuesday morning, as dense fog contributed to two near-simultaneous chain-reaction crashes in both directions.

Local authorities declared a partial state of emergency following the incidents, which involved between 70 and 86 vehicles, including passenger cars, heavy trucks, and a bus. Initial reporting on casualties varied slightly across news outlets, with official counts indicating at least 11 to 12 fatalities and dozens of injuries. Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that a Romanian national was among those hospitalized.

Bulgarian officials described the event as a tragedy, and a national day of mourning was declared. Emergency responders remained at the scene to clear wreckage and investigate the exact sequence of events.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă