Belgium train collides with school bus, killing four people including two teenagers

A train struck a school bus at a level crossing near Buggenhout station in Belgium early Tuesday. The victims included two teenagers, the bus driver, and an adult accompanying pupils. Two other people were severely injured. Transport Minister Jean-Luc Crucke said security cameras showed the crossing’s security barriers had come down. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed deep sadness about the tragedy. Belgium has a dense railway network and a history of level-crossing accidents. Infrabel reported five deaths in such accidents in 2025, the lowest number recorded since 2020.

"Four people, including two teenagers, were killed in Belgium on Tuesday when a train crashed into a school bus on a level-crossing near the town of Buggenhout, RTL TV reported, citing Transport Minister Jean-Luc Crucke."

"The victims also included the bus driver and an adult accompanying the pupils, RTL quoted Crucke as saying. Two other people were also severely injured, he added."

"The accident occurred early on Tuesday at a level-crossing near Buggenhout station, about 23 kilometres (14.29 miles) from Brussels. Crucke said security cameras showed that the crossing's security barriers had come down."

"Belgium, where a dense railway network criss-crosses towns and villages, has a history of accidents at level-crossings. Five people died in such accidents in 2025, railway infrastructure operator Infrabel says on its website, the lowest number recorded since 2020."

Read at Irish Independent