Identities of victims from bus accident in Bulgaria still being determined

(Patria) - Following the horrific accident in which 46 people, mostly tourists from North Macedonia, died in a burning bus on the highway in western Bulgaria, the identities of the deceased are still being determined. Seven survivors were transferred to the hospital due to burns. This is a terrible tragedy because the majority of the victims are young people, twelve children under 18 years of age, and others are between 20 and 30 years old.

"They are in stable condition and out of danger," said North Macedonian Minister of Health Venko Filipče, who, along with Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, visited the injured, according to Macedonian media.

Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Olta Xhaçka says that all the victims of the accident in Bulgaria are Albanians from North Macedonia.

"Great pain for the 45 lost lives of Albanians from North Macedonia in the tragic accident in Bulgaria. Sincere condolences to the families of the victims and a speedy recovery to the injured," she wrote on Facebook.

At this moment, there is no confirmation of Serbian citizens among the passengers, but several buses were on the trip.

Director of the Bulgarian Police Borislav Sarafov says that possible causes of the accident are driver error or a technical malfunction of the bus, which has not yet been determined.

Bulgarian Minister of Interior Bojko Rashkov stated that the highway guardrail was breached and that it is possible that the fire in the bus broke out due to sparks from the vehicle's contact with the guardrail.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić sent a telegram of condolences to the President and Prime Minister of North Macedonia.