Straldzha council has launched a fundraising drive for a 15-year-old boy whose father died in the chain-reaction crash on the Trakia motorway on 10 November, deputy mayor Grozdan Ivanov told BTA. The boy's mother died of COVID-19 several years ago.

The man was among the victims of two pile-ups near the Zimnitsa junction by Yambol. They happened at about 7am on Tuesday, in thick fog. In all, 86 vehicles collided and 11 people died the same day. Early today, one of the seriously injured died in hospital, raising the toll to 12.

The previous development: Red Cross opens free helpline with psychologists after Trakia motorway crashes

The council will pay all the costs of the father's funeral. It now wants to raise money for the boy and for his grandmother, who will look after him and with whom he will live.

"An extremely hard fate, an extremely black destiny for the whole family. The boy is left a complete orphan," Ivanov said.

The father was an international lorry driver until a workplace accident left him with a serious spinal injury and a lasting disability. The boy has been treated for cancer.

The deputy mayor said the boy has no close relative other than his grandmother. She is a pensioner on a pension close to the minimum, and the boy is growing up and has needs.

Ivanov also appealed for help on social media. He said many people want to help. "That is why my appeal is to everyone who can and wants to help, and I know there are many of us, to join this fundraising drive," he said.

Donations go to an account in the grandmother's name. Its number is posted on Grozdan Ivanov's Facebook profile.