Foggy Bulgarian Motorway Crashes Kill at Least 12

Dense fog contributed to two major pileups on the highway connecting Sofia to Burgas on the Black Sea coast on November 10. The crashes happened on opposite carriageways at the same location around 7 a.m., and authorities halted traffic on both sides of the highway, according to Health Minister Katya Ivkova.

Ten people died at the scene and two more died while being taken to hospital, Ivkova said. Another 46 people were taken to health-care facilities to receive care. About 86 vehicles, many of them trucks, were involved.

Police opened an investigation. Initial assessments pointed to sharply reduced visibility, a wet road and speeds that were not suited to the conditions. Regional Governor Mihail Kasherov, who visited the scene, said he had never witnessed anything comparable.

The crashes disrupted visits by senior officials. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen changed her schedule during a working visit to Bulgaria after Prime Minister Rumen Radev left to go to the crash site. President Iliana Yotova also cut short her time at the Paris Peace Forum before returning to Bulgaria, her press office said.