Bus crashes, catches fire in Bulgaria; at least 45 tourists dead, ‘including 12 children’

Vehicle, one of four travelling together, was taking people home to North Macedonia from Turkey; ‘some may have changed buses during stops’

Investigation to take place but bus appears to have hit a highway guard rail, crashed and burst into flames

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Firefighters and forensic workers inspect the scene of a bus crash which the authorities say killed at least 45 people on a highway in western Bulgaria on Tuesday. The bus, registered in Northern Macedonia, crashed around 2 am and there were children among the victims. Photo: BTA Agency Bulgaria via AP

Published: 7:37pm, 23 Nov 2021Updated: 8:05pm, 23 Nov 2021

A bus carrying people home to North Macedonia from a tourist trip to Turkey crashed and caught fire in Bulgaria early Tuesday, killing at least 45 people, authorities and local media said.

North Macedonia’s chief prosecutor said 12 children were among the victims. Lubomir Jovevski spoke to reporters as he visited the scene of the accident on a highway in the west of the country.

The cause of the 2am crash was not immediately confirmed, but it appeared that the bus hit a highway guard rail, crashed and caught fire.

The bus was one of four carrying Macedonian tourists home from a trip to the Turkish city of Istanbul. Seven survivors were taken to hospital for treatment.

Officials said an investigation would be launched.

Damaged highway railing at the scene of a bus crash which killed at least 45 people on a highway in western Bulgaria. Photo: Bulphoto Agency via AP

Photos taken soon after the crash showed the bus engulfed in flames with plumes of thick, black smoke rising from the scene.