At least four people were killed after a train struck a school minibus at a level crossing in Buggenhout, a village north of Brussels, on Thursday (May 26).
Seven children, a supervisor, and a driver were aboard the minibus at the time of the collision, a police spokeswoman confirmed. Two sources told AFP that there were several fatalities among those on the bus. Belgian police declined to officially confirm the casualty toll when contacted by AFP.
The collision occurred at approximately 8:08 am local time (0608 GMT). Spokesman Frederic Sacre said the train involved was due to stop at the next station, roughly a kilometre away. “The impact was extremely violent,” Sacre said, describing the toll as “dramatic.”
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Belgian media published images of a badly damaged minibus lying on its side on a road next to the railway line, with emergency workers’ tents erected around the scene.
Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed condolences on X. “My thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones. I wish the injured much strength,” he wrote.
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