VIDEO Huge tragedy in Bulgaria: At least 45 people died in a bus crash, including 12 children – Topky.sk

The bus was mainly used by tourists from Northern Macedonia, but also one Serb and a Belgian. The bus crashed on Tuesday due to hitherto unknown reasons and started burning, Reuters reported. According to the Bulgarian authorities, the vehicle apparently crashed into a highway barrier. It is not clear whether it ignited before or after.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVuB0Q4oqeI

The exact circumstances of the accident are unknown

According to the DPA, the accident occurred shortly after 2:00 a.m. local time. Its exact circumstances are not yet known. Interim Interior Minister Boyko Raskov said the bodies inside the bus had been “burned to ashes.”

“It’s a scary sight. I’ve never seen anything like it before.” Raškov told reporters at the scene of the tragedy.

According to his own words, North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev spoke to one of the survivors, who told him that the sleeping passengers had been awakened by an explosion. Several people sitting in the back managed to break the window and escape from the flames.

Car accident in Bulgaria, soldier with 45 cats, between 5 children (GALERIE FOTO) – https://t.co/1FYkTuz3It

Photo: (c) VASSIL DONEV / EPA pic.twitter.com/jLqqvxFWAG

– AGERPRES (@agerpres) November 23, 2021

Seven passengers were rescued

There were about 50 passengers and two drivers on the bus, the DPA said, citing state radio and police. According to the radio report, the victims are mainly Albanians. Nikolai Nikolov, head of the fire and civil protection unit at the Bulgarian Interior Ministry, told BNT public television that seven passengers who had escaped from the burning wreck had been hospitalized in a hospital in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. They suffered mainly burns, and one of them also has a broken leg. Their condition is stabilized.

Source: TASR / Nova TV via AP

Slovak politicians also expressed their sincere condolences

On Tuesday, Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger and Foreign Minister Ivan Korčok expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and survivors of the tragic bus accident in western Bulgaria, which claimed at least 45 victims, including 12 children.

“My sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of those who lost their lives this morning during a terrible bus accident in Bulgaria. Wounded wishes for early recovery and a lot of strength,” Heger wrote on Twitter in English.

My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of those who lost their lives during the terrible bus accident in #Bulgaria early this morning. I wish a speedy recovery and lots of strength to those injured.@Zoran_Zaev #StefanYanev

– Eduard Heger (@eduardheger) November 23, 2021

“I am shocked by the news from Bulgaria of the tragic bus accident in which the citizens of Northern Macedonia were. I wish the survivors an early recovery.” Korčok, the head of Slovak diplomacy, also said on Twitter in English.