Four Killed After School Minibus Hit by Train in Belgium

Two schoolchildren and two adults have died after a train collided with a school minibus in the Belgian town of Buggenhout.

The crash happened shortly after 08:00 local time as the minibus was transporting pupils to a special education school, according to Belgian federal police.

Police spokeswoman An Berger said the vehicle was carrying seven children, along with a driver and a chaperone, when the collision occurred at a level crossing.

Berger explained that the driver had been travelling along a road parallel to the railway line before turning left onto the crossing while the safety barriers were already lowered.

A train passing through Buggenhout then struck the minibus.

Belgian mobility minister Jean-Luc Crucke confirmed reports that the crossing barriers had been down at the time of the accident.

“My first thoughts are with the victims,” he said following the tragedy.

Images from the scene showed the heavily damaged minibus lying on its side near the railway tracks in Buggenhout, a town near Aalst northwest of Brussels.

Authorities said nobody aboard the train was injured, although one passenger was treated for shock.

Zuhal Demir described the incident as “heartbreaking news” and said her thoughts were with the victims, their families and everyone affected.

Ursula von der Leyen also reacted to the crash, saying: “Today, Europe grieves with Belgium.”