Sofia cancels public events following 11 deaths
Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev has canceled all public, cultural, and entertainment events organized by municipal structures for November 11, OFFNews reported.
The decision follows a declaration of national mourning by the Council of Ministers. This mourning honors victims of a series of chain collisions on the Trakia Motorway that occurred on the morning of November 11, 2026.
The collisions involved a total of 86 vehicles near the Zimnitsa road junction close to Yambol. According to data from the Ministry of Health as of 5:00 p.m., the accidents resulted in 11 deaths.
Municipal responses to national mourning
The cancellation in Sofia covers events organized by the Sofia Municipality, district administrations, municipal and regional cultural institutions, and other municipal structures, according to OFFNews. Focus-News reported that the order extends to all outdoor public, cultural, and entertainment events held within Sofia territory for which permits had been issued.
As a sign of respect, the national flag of the Republic of Bulgaria and the flag of the Sofia Municipality will be flown at half-mast on the buildings of all affected municipal and cultural institutions, Focus-News reported.
Other municipalities have implemented similar measures in response to the tragedy:
- Kazanlak: The Municipality of Kazanlak canceled all official events through the end of the week to express solidarity with those who lost loved ones, according to Kazanlak.Com.
- Haskovo: A children’s musical-educational play titled “Children’s Smile,” intended to teach road safety, was canceled in Haskovo, Haskovo.info reported.
Fifty-one people admitted to hospitals following pileup
Medical facilities have admitted 51 people following the multi-vehicle pileup. The distribution of patients across hospitals is as follows, according to Ministry of Health data reported by OFFNews:
| Location | Number of Patients |
|---|---|
| Sliven | 33 |
| Yambol | 11 |
The Ministry of Health also confirmed that 13 people are currently listed in serious condition.
Impact on local programming
In Kazanlak, a planned opening of a new sports ground in the Vasil Levski neighborhood was postponed, according to Kazanlak.Com. The municipality noted that while the infrastructure will be available for use, lighting installations will be completed in the following days.
In Haskovo, the Local Commission for Combating Juvenile Delinquency will announce a new date for the “Children’s Smile” performance at a later time, Haskovo.info reported.
Which locations and accidents are affected?
Which locations are affected by the event cancellations?
Cancellations have been confirmed in Sofia, Kazanlak, and Haskovo. The Sofia order specifically covers all municipal, district, and regional cultural institutions, as well as permitted outdoor events within the city, according to Focus-News.
Where did the Trakia motorway accidents occur?
The chain collisions took place near the Zimnitsa road junction on the Trakia Motorway, close to Yambol, according to OFFNews.
How many vehicles were involved in the collisions?
A total of 86 vehicles were involved in the series of accidents, according to reports from the Sofia Municipality and OFFNews.
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