Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle· Renew

Confirmed

A fatal bus accident near Svoge, Bulgaria occurred on a road that was poorly maintained due to corruption.

Omissions

• The accident specifically occurred on August 25, 2018, killing 17 people and injuring 20 others. The driver was also charged in connection with the accident. The claim omits the specific death toll and the fact that the driver was also a focus of the investigation.
• The sources used are journalistic articles (Reuters, Euractiv, Sofia Globe), not the original investigative reports from Bulgarian authorities.

Sources

• SecondaryReuters - Three Bulgarian ministers sacked after fatal bus crashThree ministers sacked after a bus crash near Svoge on August 25, 2018. The opposition Socialists said the accident is a direct consequence of corrupt practices. The road had been repaired using low-quality construction materials.
• SecondaryEuractiv - Borissov sacks three ministers following embarrassing road accidentA bus crash near Svoge on August 25, 2018 apparently caused by inadequate asphalt has exposed fraud and corruption in Bulgaria's road construction.
• SecondaryThe Sofia Globe - Investigations continue into Bulgaria's worst bus crash in nine yearsThe August 25 2018 bus crash near Svoge killed 17 people. Investigations were ongoing into the causes including road conditions.
• TertiaryPublic Spend Forum - Bulgaria Road Tragedy Suggests Corruption-Ridden Public Tender SystemThe road in question had been repaired using low-quality construction materials, suggesting corruption in the public tender system.