Four dead, two injured after train hits school bus in Belgium, deputy PM says
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The incident happened at a level crossing in Buggenhout and an investigation into the cause of the crash is under way.
Four people, including two children, were killed when a train hit a school minibus in northern Belgium on Tuesday, the country's deputy prime minister said.
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"A tragic collision between a train and a school bus took place in Buggenhout this morning. Four people have been killed, including two children," Maxime Prevot wrote on X.
The children were aged 15 and 12, the public prosecutor's office said at a press conference.
A police spokesperson told the media that seven children, a supervisor and a driver were aboard the minibus.
The other five children on board were sent to hospital in a critical condition but are now all said to be stable.
Also killed were a 27-year-old teacher and the bus' 49-year-old driver.
Belgian media showed images of a badly damaged minibus lying on its side on a road next to a railway line, with tents set up by emergency workers around.
"The impact was extremely violent," police spokesperson Frederic Sacre said, describing the toll as "dramatic."
"It happened at around 8:08 am when a minibus was struck by a train that was due to stop at the next station, which was about a kilometre away," he said.
Police said the barrier at the crossing was down and light was red when the collision happened. An investigation into how the crash happened is ongoing.
Belgian interior minister Bernard Quintin wrote on X that "my thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones."
Related"I wish the injured much strength," he wrote.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was "heartbroken" by the crash.
"My deepest condolences go out to the victims' families and their loved ones. Today, Europe grieves with Belgium," she said in an online post.
Our journalists are working on this story and will update it as soon as more information becomes available.
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