More than 200 people have given blood at the University Hospital in Burgas since yesterday for the victims of the serious crash on the Trakia motorway, the hospital told BTA. Because of the emergency, its blood donation unit has extended its hours and will see donors every day until 7pm through the end of the working week.
On Tuesday, the national day of mourning, the Bulgarian Red Cross, Sofia city council and the National Centre of Transfusion Haematology also called for blood donors in Sofia. The drive there is today, from 8am to 2pm.
The background: Bulgaria holds day of national mourning for Trakia motorway crash victims
The Burgas hospital asks everyone who can to come in the next few days, especially on Friday. Many people want to give blood, and if they spread out over the days, donors will arrive at a steadier pace and will not have to queue. The hospital says help is just as valuable after the first hours, in the coming days and weeks, so not everyone needs to come at once.
Whole families and groups of friends are coming. Many people have phoned to offer help.
Students from the Yuri Gagarin Sports School in Burgas organised themselves. Deputy head Krasimira Yakimova gave blood first, followed by a group of students who came with her. They are at the hospital again today. They share a belief that the greatest victory is a saved human life.
A volunteer from Nessebar is offering her own car free of charge to take donors to Burgas if they have no transport.
A separate drive for residents of Pomorie and nearby villages will take place tomorrow, 12 November, at the Prosveta 1888 chitalishte (community cultural centre). It will take donors from 9am to 1pm, or for as long as people keep coming.