The official visit of two ministers to Yambol has been postponed because of two pile-ups on the Trakia motorway. Labour and social policy minister Natalia Efremova and youth and sport minister Encho Keryazov were due to visit the town. Yambol deputy mayor Diana Dimitrova told BTA about the delay.
The programme included a tour of the renovated social services centre for adults and the opening of a new climbing and balance area. Other sport and activity events for children and young people were also planned.
The motorway was closed near the Zimnitsa junction this morning. First reports say about 50 cars and lorries were involved in the crashes. Some people were hurt.
Regional governor Georgi Chalakov said many people are expected to be injured on the stretch between the Zimnitsa and Karnobat junctions.
The interior ministry said that minister Demerdzhiev ordered chief commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov, who is acting chief secretary of the ministry, and deputy interior minister Kaloyan Kaloyanov to go to the scene. Both have set off.
Traffic police are directing traffic. Vehicles are being diverted from the Karnobat junction along road I-6 through Petolachkata to Sliven, and from there along road II-53 to the Krushare junction.