A tragic railway accident occurred on Thursday morning when a man attempting to cross the tracks illegally near the Topoli stop was struck and killed by the Varna-Sofia high-speed train.
The incident happened just minutes after the train departed from Varna station at 7:55 a.m. Passengers onboard reported that the train came to an abrupt halt roughly five minutes into its journey.
According to the press center of the Varna city police, a report of the incident was received at approximately 8:10 a.m. Police officers and emergency medical teams were immediately dispatched to the site. Upon arrival, paramedics confirmed that the man had died instantly as a result of the collision.
The train involved in the fatal accident has been identified as composition number 2612, operated by the Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ). BDZ confirmed the event later in the morning and expressed condolences to the victim’s family once his identity is verified.
Authorities are currently working to establish the identity of the deceased man, who is believed to have crossed the railway tracks outside of a designated pedestrian area. The reasons behind his attempt to cross remain unclear.
As police and railway inspectors conduct their work at the scene, the train remains stationary, and services on the route have been temporarily affected. Passengers were informed of the delay and instructed to remain onboard until clearance was granted by officials.
Eyewitnesses described the incident as “sudden and shocking,” with some passengers noting that the train appeared to be traveling at considerable speed before coming to an emergency stop.
The area near the Topoli stop, located on the outskirts of Varna, is known for its proximity to residential zones, where residents occasionally take shortcuts across the tracks despite warning signs and fencing.
Local authorities have once again urged citizens to use designated railway crossings and to avoid crossing active lines illegally, citing the dangers posed by high-speed trains operating along the route.
The investigation is ongoing, with both BDZ and law enforcement agencies collaborating to determine the exact sequence of events and whether any additional safety measures are required in the area.
This latest accident underscores ongoing concerns about pedestrian safety around Bulgaria’s railways, where illegal crossings remain a persistent issue despite repeated public awareness campaigns.