A devastating tragedy unfolded in northern Belgium on Tuesday after a passenger train rammed into a school minibus conveying children, leaving multiple people dead and several others injured.
The fatal crash occurred at a railway crossing in the village of Buggenhout, where the train reportedly collided with the bus carrying seven children, alongside a driver and a supervisor.
Disturbing images from the scene showed the mangled minibus overturned beside the railway track as emergency responders battled to rescue victims and secure the area. Tents were also erected around the crash site during rescue operations.
Authorities confirmed that the collision happened at about 8:08 a.m. local time (0608 GMT). According to spokesman, Frederic Sacre, the train involved was approaching a station located roughly one kilometre from the crossing when the incident occurred.
“The impact was extremely violent,” Sacre said, describing the situation as “dramatic.”
While Belgian police have yet to officially disclose the exact number of casualties, local sources confirmed that several people aboard the school bus lost their lives in the horrifying accident.
Belgian Interior Minister, Bernard Quintin, reacted to the tragedy in a message posted on X, expressing sympathy for the victims and their families.
“My thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones,” he wrote.
“I wish the injured much strength.”
The shocking incident has triggered grief and concern across Belgium as investigations into the cause of the collision continue.
