TRAKIA: At least 11 people were killed and 48 injured in two chain collisions involving about 50 vehicles on Bulgaria's Trakia motorway near the city of Yambol on Tuesday morning, authorities said.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev gave the toll to reporters at the scene. The Yambol regional governor, Georgi Chalakov, had earlier told the national news agency BTA that at least 10 people had died and about 50 vehicles were involved. The count moved through the morning, from five dead in the first reports, and officials warned it could rise further as some of the injured were in critical condition.
The crashes happened on opposite carriageways: the first at kilometre 289 on the side heading to Burgas, reported at about 7:10 am, and the second at kilometre 294 before the Zimnitsa junction, on the side heading to Sofia.
The Interior Ministry said dense fog had sharply reduced visibility. The regional road administration also pointed to a wet surface and speeds unsuited to the conditions. Drivers described visibility as extremely poor.
Rescue teams had to cut through crash barriers to reach people trapped in crushed and overturned cars, and fog prevented helicopter evacuation. The injured were taken to hospitals in Yambol, Sliven and Burgas. The motorway was closed in both directions between the Zimnitsa and Kabile junctions, and the BG-Alert system was activated for the Yambol, Sliven and Burgas regions.
Chief Inspector Todor Mishinev of the Yambol regional police told local television that rescue work was the priority and that procedural and investigative steps would follow.
(With inputs from media reports)