A devastating collision between a passenger train and a school bus in Buggenhout has left four people dead, including two children, while five other children were seriously injured, Belgian authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The tragic accident occurred during the morning rush hour at a railway crossing near the town, located about 30 kilometers northwest of Brussels.
According to prosecutors, the victims included the driver of the minibus, an adult escort, and two children onboard. Emergency responders rushed the injured children to nearby hospitals, where they remain in serious condition.
Officials said investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the crash. Authorities are interviewing witnesses and reviewing nearby surveillance footage as part of the ongoing investigation.
Lisa De Wilde, spokesperson for the public prosecutor’s office, stated that preliminary findings showed the railway crossing barriers were down and warning lights were active when the collision happened.
Belgian rail infrastructure operator Infrabel said the train was traveling at approximately 120 kilometers per hour (75 mph) as it approached the crossing and had no time to stop before impact.
“The impact was extremely violent,” Infrabel spokesperson Frederic Sacre told Belgian broadcaster RTBF.
Images from the scene showed the heavily damaged school bus overturned beside the railway tracks, while forensic teams in protective suits examined the wreckage. The train itself appeared to suffer limited visible damage.
Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed condolences following the tragedy, describing the crash as a heartbreaking incident.
“My thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones,” Quintin said in a statement shared on social media.
Rail services in the area were temporarily disrupted as emergency crews and investigators continued their work at the scene.
