At least four people have been killed, including two teenagers, after a train crashed into a school bus on Tuesday morning in the northern Belgian town of Buggenhout, Belgian's Transport Minister Jean-Luc Crucke has said.
Crucke told broadcater RTL Belgium that two teenagers, the driver of the minibus, and another passenger died in the crash.
Flemish public broadcaster VRT said there seven children, as well as a chaperone and driver, in the bus at the time of the collision.
Crucke said two other people were seriously injured in the crash and that footage showed the level crossing was closed at the time .
Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele said his thoughts was with victims and their families.
"Gratitude to the emergency services who are doing everything they can on the scene," he said.
The collision happened at around 08:15 local time (06:00 GMT).
Nobody on the train, which was carrying around 100 passengers, is believed to have been injured and have been safely evacuated.
Belgian newspaper Le Soir said the level crossing was located at the intersection of Stationsstraat and Vierhuizen Street.
Rail network operator Infrabel said the level crossing appeared to be closed at the time of the collision.
"Footage shows that the barriers were down and the traffic lights were red. We do not know how the accident could have happened. That is for the police and the public prosecutor’s office to investigate," said Thomas Baeken, a Spokesperson from Infrabel.
He added that the driver had applied the emergency brake in the moments before the collision.
Rail services between Dendermonde and Londerzeel have suffered severe disruption and replacement buses are in operation.
A large number of emergency services continue to respond to the incident.
EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said she was "heartbroken" to learn of the crash.
Flemish Education Minister Zuhal Demir said the news was “heartbreaking.”
“My thoughts are with all the victims, their families, and everyone closely involved,” she added.
“Much strength to everyone affected by this. Thanks to the emergency services for their efforts on site.”
This is a developing story.
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