Four people, including two students, were killed Tuesday morning after a train collided with a school minibus at a railway crossing in Buggenhout, Belgium, authorities said.
The crash happened during the morning rush hour near the town’s train station, about 30 kilometers northwest of Brussels. The minibus was carrying seven students, along with a driver and an attendant, when it was struck by the train at a level crossing.
Belgian officials said the victims included two children, aged 12 and 15, as well as the 49-year-old driver and a 27-year-old chaperone. Five other children were seriously injured and taken to hospital for treatment.
According to railway operator Infrabel, surveillance footage showed that the crossing barriers were lowered and warning lights were red at the time of the collision. Investigators are now working to determine how the minibus ended up on the tracks despite the safety measures being active.
The train driver reportedly activated the emergency brakes, but was unable to stop in time. The impact was described as extremely violent, leaving the minibus badly damaged. None of the roughly 100 passengers on the train were seriously injured.
Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed condolences to the families of the victims and wished a full recovery to the injured children. Local authorities also observed a moment of silence following the tragedy.
Rail traffic in the area was temporarily suspended as emergency crews and investigators worked at the scene. The exact circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.
