Belgium: Train collides with school bus, several dead

A train struck a school minibus carrying seven children at a level crossing near Buggenhout in northern Belgium. At least four people died, including two teenagers, the bus driver, and an adult accompanying the children. Two other people were severely injured. The crash occurred around 8:08 am when the minibus was hit by a train due to stop at the next station about a kilometer away. Security cameras showed the crossing barriers had come down, confirmed by railway infrastructure operator Infrabel. Police described the impact as extremely violent and the toll as dramatic. Belgium has had multiple level crossing accidents in recent years, with five deaths reported last year, the lowest since 2020.

"At least four people, including two teenagers, were killed when a train collided with a school minibus carrying seven children in northern Belgium on Tuesday, officials said. The victims also included the bus driver and an adult accompanying the children, according to RTL TV, which cited Transport Minister Jean-Luc Crucke. Level crossing accidents are not rare in Belgium"

"Crucke said two other people were severely injured in the accident, which occurred on a level crossing near the town of Buggenhout, some 23 kilometers (about 14 miles) from the capital, Brussels. Security cameras showed that the crossing's security barriers had come down, Crucke said, something confirmed by railway infrastructure operator Infrabel. "The impact was extremely violent," police spokesman Frederic Sacre told the AFP news agency, describing the toll as "dramatic.""

""It happened at around 8:08 am (0608 GMT) when a minibus was struck by a train that was due to stop at the next station, which was about a kilometer away," he said. Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said on X that "it is with deep sadness that I learned of the tragic accident that occurred in Buggenhout," adding that his "thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones.""

"Belgium has a dense railway network and has seen several accidents at level crossings in recent years. Last year, five people were killed in such accidents, the lowest number since 2020, according to the Infrabel website."

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