Fog Pileups Kill Over 10 on Bulgaria’s Trakia Motorway
(MENAFN) More than 10 people died Tuesday in two chain-reaction collisions involving roughly 50 vehicles on a major highway in southeastern Bulgaria, forcing authorities to shut the road in both directions.
The crashes struck opposite carriageways of the Trakia Motorway near the Zimnitsa junction in the Yambol region, at kilometers 289 and 294, regional Governor Georgi Chalakov told a national news agency.
Dense fog had cut visibility in the area, the Interior Ministry said. Regional Road Administration Director Galin Kostov also pointed to wet pavement and speeds unsuited to the weather.
Four people with serious injuries were rushed to a hospital in Yambol, Deputy Hospital Director Valentin Valchev said. Eight more injured were due to be transferred to a hospital in the nearby city of Sliven, according to regional Governor Mihail Kasherov. One of them was in very serious condition with a traumatic brain injury.
Emergency crews were sent out after the first report came in at 7.10 am (0510GMT), Chalakov said.
Rescuers had to cut away sections of crash barriers to reach some of the victims, and the thick fog grounded helicopters, preventing air evacuations.
Authorities said the highway would stay closed in both directions until every vehicle had been cleared.
The crashes struck opposite carriageways of the Trakia Motorway near the Zimnitsa junction in the Yambol region, at kilometers 289 and 294, regional Governor Georgi Chalakov told a national news agency.
Dense fog had cut visibility in the area, the Interior Ministry said. Regional Road Administration Director Galin Kostov also pointed to wet pavement and speeds unsuited to the weather.
Four people with serious injuries were rushed to a hospital in Yambol, Deputy Hospital Director Valentin Valchev said. Eight more injured were due to be transferred to a hospital in the nearby city of Sliven, according to regional Governor Mihail Kasherov. One of them was in very serious condition with a traumatic brain injury.
Emergency crews were sent out after the first report came in at 7.10 am (0510GMT), Chalakov said.
Rescuers had to cut away sections of crash barriers to reach some of the victims, and the thick fog grounded helicopters, preventing air evacuations.
Authorities said the highway would stay closed in both directions until every vehicle had been cleared.
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