A school bus carrying children was hit by a passenger train at a railway crossing in Belgium on Tuesday morning, leaving several people dead in what authorities described as a major transport tragedy.
The incident happened just after 8 o'clock in the morning local time in Buggenhout, a municipality in the East Flanders province. The bus was said to be carrying seven children as well as an accompanying adult and the driver when it collided with the train.
The minibus involved was said to be working for Belgian public transportation company De Lijn.
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Fatalities confirmed following incident
No immediate information has been made available regarding casualties; however, Belgian broadcaster VRT NWS has stated that multiple deaths have been confirmed.
Images from the scene showed the bus completely destroyed and lying beside the railway tracks after the impact. Emergency teams were seen rushing to the scene of the crash.
Questions raised over crossing barriers
Initial findings have raised serious questions about how the accident occurred. According to railway infrastructure operator Infrabel, preliminary camera footage suggested that the crossing barriers were already closed and warning lights were flashing red when the bus entered the tracks. Investigators are now trying to determine why the vehicle proceeded onto the crossing despite the safety signals.
Officials said the train driver applied emergency brakes but could not stop in time to avoid the collision. Infrabel stated that the train had already slowed down while approaching Buggenhout station before the crash occurred.
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Rail services disrupted after collision
Around 100 passengers aboard the train were safely evacuated following the accident. Authorities said one person suffered shock after the incident.
Rail services between Dendermonde and Londerzeel were suspended, with replacement bus services arranged for commuters. Police, prosecutors and forensic teams have launched a full investigation into the exact sequence of events leading to the crash.
The incident has once again sparked concerns over railway crossing safety and emergency response protocols involving school transport vehicles across Europe.
