Seven PAOK Fans Killed in Tragic Traffic Accident in Romania

GCT Newsroom
January 27, 2026
2-3 minutes read

Greece's embassy in Romania has confirmed that all seven people killed in a devastating traffic accident on Tuesday were dedicated supporters of Thessaloniki football club PAOK.

The minivan, carrying 10 passengers, had set off from Greece en route to France for Thursday's Europa League match between PAOK and Lyon. The crash occurred around 1 p.m. on the E70 highway between Caransebeș and Lugojel in western Romania.

Dashcam footage aired by local media shows the black minivan attempting to overtake another vehicle before colliding head-on with an oncoming truck. Romanian authorities report that the incident involved a truck, a tanker, the minivan (with 8+1 passenger seats), and another passenger vehicle.

Emergency services responded promptly after being alerted at approximately 1:05 p.m. Romania's fire service deployed a first aid vehicle, an extrication unit, a fire engine, and support personnel to the scene near Lugojel village. Three survivors were hospitalized, with some in serious or critical condition.

Adverse weather prevented the use of emergency helicopters, according to Raed Arafat, head of Romania's Civil Protection department. Romanian investigators are examining the exact circumstances of the collision.

Greek embassy officials are traveling to the site—about seven hours from Bucharest—to provide assistance.

Thessaloniki Mayor Stelios Angeloudis expressed his grief on social media: “Our thoughts are with the PAOK fans who lost their lives in Romania, on the way to their beloved team’s away game. My sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the tragic accident, and a speedy recovery to the injured.”

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also addressed the tragedy on Facebook:

"Deeply shocked I was informed of the tragic accident in Romania that claimed the lives of 7 young compatriots of ours. The Greek government and our Embassy are in direct cooperation with local authorities, providing every possible support.

In these difficult times, together with all Greek women and all Greeks, I express my most sincere condolences to the victims' relatives and to the family of PAOK. With the common hope that the injured recover quickly. Our thoughts are with them."

This story has been updated with official confirmations and statements. Our thoughts remain with the families, the injured, and the PAOK community during this heartbreaking time.