2021 Bulgaria bus crash
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (November 2021) |
 | |
| Date | November 23, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Time | 02:00 (UTC+2) |
| Location | Near Bosnek, Bulgaria |
| Coordinates | 42°29′27″N 23°07′53″E / 42.49083°N 23.13139°E |
| Deaths | 46 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 7 |
On November 23, 2021, 02:00 local time a North Macedonian bus crashed and caught fire in western Bulgaria.[1] The accident happened on Struma Motorway near the village of Bosnek, south-west of Sofia.[2] Forty-six people died during the crash, including twelve children. Seven other passengers survived.[3][4]
The Dolna Dikanya to Dragichevo section of the Struma Motorway was temporarily closed following the incident.[3]
Background
According to European Commission data, in 2019 Bulgaria had the second highest road fatality rate in the EU. After the accident, the mayor of the nearby town of Pernik told local media outlets that the motorway was in poor condition and accidents were frequent in the area.[5][3]
Accident
A bus carrying Macedonian tourists returning to the capital Skopje from a weekend holiday trip to Istanbul, crashed on a motorway near the Bulgarian village of Bosnek. The vehicle hit a highway barrier either before or after it caught fire.[3] Forty-six people died during the crash, including twelve children. The majority of the other victims were aged between 20 and 30. The Bulgarian Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov stated that the victims' bodies were "completely burned".[4] Seven passengers managed to escape through the windows and were recovered in critical conditions with serious burn wounds.[3] Initial theories around the cause of the incident included driver error or technical malfunction.[3] The majority of the victims were Albanian citizens of North Macedonia.[6][7][8]
The bus was registered under the tourist agency "Besa Trans".[9]
References
- ^ Albeck-Ripka, Livia (November 23, 2021). "Bulgaria Bus Crash Kills at Least 45". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "Bus crash in Bulgaria kills 45 Macedonian tourists". NBC News. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Bulgaria bus crash: Children among at least 45 killed". BBC News. November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ a b Anonym. "The number of victims of road traffic accidents in Bulgaria rises to 46 | tellerreport.com". tellerreport.com. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "Bus crashes, catches fire in Bulgaria; at least 45 dead". AP NEWS. November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "Bulgaria bus crash: Children among at least 46 killed". BBC. November 23, 2021.
- ^ "At least 45 people killed in bus accident in Bulgaria". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "Откриен идентитетот на патниците во автобуската несреќа во Бугарија". November 23, 2021.
- ^ "Fire guts bus carrying young people in Bulgaria, killing at least 45". www.msn.com. Retrieved November 23, 2021.