A serious collision occurred in Buggenhout after a train struck a school bus at a level crossing on Tuesday morning, leaving several victims, according to Belgian officials.
The incident is being investigated, with authorities still working to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Local public broadcaster VRT reported that the school bus was carrying seven children and two adults at the time of the collision.
One of the adults was the driver, while the second was supervising the children on board.
“Impact was extremely violent”
A spokesperson for rail network operator Infrabel said the impact of the collision was “extremely violent” and described the incident as “dramatic”.
The crash occurred around 8:08 a.m. when the minibus was struck by a train travelling through the area before reaching its next scheduled stop about one kilometre away.
Political reaction and investigation
Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed condolences to the victims and their families, saying his thoughts were with those affected.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the number of casualties, while police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Emergency services remain engaged as more details are expected to emerge.
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