At least 12 people died and around 50 were hurt after two large crashes on a motorway in eastern Bulgaria on Tuesday, 10 November. The accidents happened near Yambol on the Trakia motorway, which connects Bulgaria’s capital Sofia with the Black Sea city of Burgas. Many vehicles were involved, including cars, buses, and large lorries. The road was closed in both directions while emergency workers tried to help people trapped in the vehicles.

Police believe that thick fog was the main reason for the crashes. They say visibility dropped very quickly, which made it difficult for drivers to see the road ahead. The road was also wet, and some drivers may have been going too fast for the conditions. Investigators are still looking into the accident to find the exact cause.

Because of the accident, rescue teams took injured people to nearby hospitals. Bulgaria’s government announced a national day of mourning for the victims. The authorities have said they will continue to investigate the crashes to understand what happened.