site.btaUPDATED Freight Train with Over 30 Cars Derails in South Bulgaria, No Casualties Reported

A freight train with more than 30 cars derailed near the southern village of Pyasachevo, near the town of Simeonovgrad, early Friday morning. According to initial information, the incident happened at around 5:30 a.m. The fire is now under control, and there are no injuries, Simeonovgrad Mayor Milena Rangelova, who was at the scene of the incident, told BTA.

“I am grateful that there are no casualties, but the situation was quite serious early this morning. Local residents heard explosions from the tank cars, which greatly alarmed them and drove them out of their homes,” Rangelova said.

She confirmed that the incident occurred in close proximity to the village, creating a real danger for residents, though evacuation was not necessary.

The causes of the derailment are being investigated. Police, fire service, civil protection teams, and representatives of the National Railway Infrastructure Company are at the scene. The Mayor added that there were no secondary fires from the incident, as it occurred in an area of harvested fields.

To provide assistance to the emergency teams if needed, Simeonovgrad Deputy Mayor Zhivko Chakurov and Toni Karaneichev from the local civil protection unit are remaining near the tracks, Rangelova added.

There were no injuries in the tank car incident between Stara Zagora and Haskovo, though the train drivers were very frightened, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Grozdan Karadjov said during a live broadcast on BNT’s morning program. He added that he will be present at the scene.

According to the Minister, the incident occurred around 5:00 a.m. today. “It is an extremely serious incident, with a very high degree of danger, as it involves 33 tank cars carrying diesel fuel,” Karadjov explained. Three of the tank cars derailed completely, and the train composition broke apart—immediately after the first car, the train separated for a reason not yet known, causing the derailment and subsequently igniting a fire that lasted about an hour until it was brought under control. “I expect the fire to be completely extinguished within the next few hours,” the Minister added. There are no casualties and no direct danger to nearby populated areas. No people or vehicles were involved.

Grozdan Karadjov stated that investigation teams for the investigation of serious transport accidents are on their way and will arrive shortly. Once the fire service finishes extinguishing the flames, the investigators will be able to determine the cause of the derailment and the resulting fire.

The train is operated by the Bulmarket company, Karadjov noted, and its teams are also traveling to the site. The State is acting appropriately, sending a diesel locomotive to pull the tank cars that have not caught fire. “In the next few hours, if allowed, the train will be uncoupled. I will be at the site of the incident,” said Karadjov.

He added that the train drivers were very scared. The train has two locomotives, one at the front and one at the back. The drivers reported feeling a strong jolt inside the locomotive, followed by loud thuds, likely from the fuel derailment. “All of these details will be determined by the investigating authority; this is preliminary information,” the Deputy Prime Minister clarified. He also noted that train traffic will not resume until the investigation is complete.

The Interior Ministry’s press center told BTA earlier in the day that tank cars have derailed between the southern towns of Stara Zagora and Haskovo in an incident involving a freight train, and fire crews are on site.

The Ministry stated that they cannot yet specify exactly how many tank cars are burning, but there is no danger to nearby populated areas. Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov, head of the Fire Safety and Population Protection Directorate General, said that a total of 13 cars derailed. At least eight of them are fuel tankers. He pointed out that diesel fuel is still leaking. "The teams' efforts are focused on preventing further fuel leakage and reignition. The colleagues on site are doing a perfect job," said Commissioner Dzhartov.

He also pointed out that there is no danger to the village population.

Mitko Chakalov, head of the Regional Fire Safety and Civil Protection Service in Haskovo, said that firefighters from Stara Zagora and Yambol are assisting their colleagues from Haskovo at the scene of the accident.

The causes are still being investigated. It is not yet clear how much fuel has leaked from the derailed tankers.