Sixteen dead in a serious bus crash near Bulgaria’s Svoge

Sixteen people died in a serious bus crash near the town of Svoge, Western Bulgaria, Interior Minister, Valentin Radev, said in an extraordinary briefing to the media on 25^th of August. The fatal accident occurred 2 km away from the exit of Svoge, on route to Sofia. There were 33 passengers on board and the driver.

Valentin Radev expressed his condolences to the relatives of the victims and the injured.

At 5 pm, I personally informed the Speaker of Parliament; Bulgaria’s President; the Prime Minister and the Chief Prosecutor. As soon as the accident was reported to the emergency number 112, teams of Police in Svoge, fire fighters and medical emergency were dispatched to the scene, the minister explained.

The bus hit three cars travelling in the opposite direction. The causes are now being investigated. The bus turned over the crash barrier, perhaps rolled several times, and fell into the valley of the river, minister Radev said.

One possible contributory factor may have been the wet road surface.

21 ambulances arrived and took the injured to several hospitals in Sofia.

13 people were pronounced dead at the scene. 21 injured, including the driver were taken to hospital. The driver is admitted in ISUL hospital in Sofia, but he is not in condition to be interviewed.

By decision of the Council of Ministers, Monday, August 27, will be declared a day of national mourning in memory of the victims of the accident.

Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev visited some of the injured in the severe bus crash, who are in "Pirogov" emergency hospital in Sofia

He thanked the Emergency, Fire fighting and Police teams who responded to the bus accident.

Earlier today, President Radev cancelled his participation in the celebrations in Gabrovo on the occasion of the 141st anniversary of the Shipka Epopee. He expressed his deep condolences to the relatives of the victims and injured in the crash.