11-member family from North Macedonia is among the victims of the severe bus crash, in which 45 people died

The Republic of North Macedonia has declared national mourning in memory of the victims of the severe bus crash on Struma Motorway, Western Bulgaria.

20 of those who died in the bus fire accident are from Studenicani municipality, near Skopje. They are from two families.

An 11-member family is also among the victims. This is the Yahiu family from the village of Morani, which belongs to the municipality of Studenchani. The family was on a trip to Istanbul.

A primary school teacher from the village of Morani, Fikrie Iseni, her daughter Anisa and two other relatives were among the victims of the accident. The Iseni family refused to speak to BNT.

The municipal registrar Amdi Iseni - from the same family - also died in the crash.

Studenichani municipality is waiting for return of the bodies. The religious council will decide whether there will be a funeral.

The relatives of all those killed in the accident are now in Sofia to identify the deceased. This was stated for BNT by Burhan Edin, Secretary of the Municipality.

Relatives are considering whether to file a lawsuit against the transport company. They complained that the victims had not been officially confirmed by the authorities.

“Ismail Kemali” Primary School in Skopje, from which there are students who died in the bus crash, has suspended classes because the children were very upset.

Two of the victims are 27-year-old Gazmend Ukali and 23-year-old Albina Beluli.

Ukali is an associate of the mayor of Kichevo. He celebrated his birthday in Istanbul with his girlfriend, according to Sloboden Pechat newspaper.

The office of the transport company “Besa Trans” remained closed all day. The owner of the company told Macedonian media that he had no idea what caused the tragedy. The company is quite popular in The Republic of North Macedonia because of the cheap excursions.

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45 people, including 12 children, have died after a bus crashed and caught fire on Struma motorway in western Bulgaria in the early hours on November 23.

The bus was registered in the Republic of North Macedonia and was carrying tourists, who were returning from a trip in Turkey to Skopje.

Seven people managed to break the windows of the bus and escape. They were taken to Pirogov emergency hospital in Sofia with burns.

Speaking at the accident site, Bulgarian caretaker Minister of Interior, Boyko Rashkov said the victims had been burned beyond recognition, describing it as a "terrifying scene".

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear. According to initial information, the bus swerved off the motorway and tore away a 50m section of the crash barrier, but it was not clear if that was before or after it caught fire.

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