A road accident led to the death of 18 people near the town of Byala. Another 10 people were injured, including a child.

A bus and a truck collided on a bridge and as a result both vehicles fell in Yantra River, Novinar newspaper reported.

Divers and firefighters started looking for the bodies of the dead passengers and helping the injured people.

Novinar reported that seven or eight people remained below water hours after the tragedy but their survival chances were minimal.

Heavy fog hindered the rescue work, Novinar reported.

The hospital in Byala announced it needed urgently blood donors. Health Minister Radoslav Gaidarski co-ordinated the work of medical teams. The Byala hospital and the Rousse regional hospital are taking care of the injured people.

According to initial information the breaks of the truck failed and it hit the bus. The bus was full, as it was the only means of transportation from Byala to the local railway station, located 7km away.