Four people, including two schoolchildren, have died after a train collided with a school minivan at a level crossing in the northern Belgian town of Buggenhout on Tuesday morning, authorities have confirmed.
The victims were two pupils aged 12 and 15, the 49-year-old driver of the minivan and a 27-year-old chaperone, according to the local prosecutor’s office, which has opened an investigation into the incident.
The country's Transport Minister Jean-Luc 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 were with victims and their families.
"Gratitude to the emergency services who are doing everything they can on the scene," he said.
The crash happened at around 08:15 local time (06:00 GMT) when a passenger train struck the minivan at a railway crossing in Buggenhout. Officials said the train was carrying roughly 100 passengers at the time.
Police spokesperson An Berger said the crossing’s safety barriers were down when the collision occurred, and that it remains unclear how the vehicle managed to enter the tracks.
She said the minivan had come from Kerkhofstraat, a road running parallel to the railway line, before turning left towards Vierhuizen and crossing into the path of an oncoming train.
“The van was hit by an oncoming train,” she said.
Images from the scene showed a white minivan lying on its side near the tracks, with severe damage to its front.
Despite the severity of the crash, none of the train passengers were seriously injured and all were safely evacuated. The train driver reportedly activated the emergency brake moments before impact.
A large emergency response operation remains underway, while rail services between Dendermonde and Londerzeel have been severely disrupted, with replacement buses in operation.
Rail infrastructure operator Infrabel said early indications suggested the crossing was properly closed at the time of the accident.
"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 for 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.
Local officials described the incident as deeply shocking. East Flanders Provincial Deputy Kurt Moens said: “What could have been a beautiful spring morning suddenly turned into a pitch-black day.”
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.”
Belgium’s Interior Minister Bernard Quintin also reacted this morning on X following the accident in Buggenhout.
“My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. I wish the injured a great deal of courage,” the minister said.
Bernard Quintin also thanked the emergency services for their “rapid intervention” at the scene.
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