Two children and two adults have died after a train collided with a school minibus at a level crossing in Buggenhout, northern Belgium, in a crash described by officials as “extremely violent”.
The vehicle was carrying seven boys, a 49-year-old driver and a 27-year-old chaperone when the incident occurred shortly after 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT). Authorities said the group was travelling to a special education school when the minibus turned onto a level crossing despite barriers being down.
Belgian federal police confirmed that the train was approaching at around 90 km/h when it struck the vehicle. The impact caused the minibus to hit a pole before being thrown into the driveway of a nearby house.
Five of the children survived but remain in hospital in critical but stable condition. Officials have not yet released further details about their injuries.
Investigators said early CCTV evidence indicates the level crossing warning lights were red and the barriers were lowered at the time of the crash. The train driver was tested for alcohol and returned a negative result, while a post-mortem examination is being carried out on the minibus driver.
Belgian officials, including the mobility minister, stressed it was too early to assign blame, with police and prosecutors continuing their investigation into how the collision occurred.
The tragedy has prompted widespread grief across Belgium and the European Union, with leaders paying tribute to the victims and emergency services responding to the scene. A minute of silence was held locally as the town of Buggenhout mourns the loss.
