The morning rush hour in Belgium turned tragic when a minibus collided with a train at a level crossing near Buggenhout, a town situated over 30 kilometers northwest of Brussels. The incident took place on Tuesday, as commuters were making their way to work and school.
According to Lisa De Wilde, spokeswoman for the East Flanders public prosecutor’s office, the crash claimed the lives of the minibus driver, an escort, and two children aged 12 and 15. Several other children involved in the accident were hospitalized and remain in serious condition.
As authorities work to piece together the events leading up to the collision, De Wilde noted at a news conference that the exact cause remains undetermined. Investigators are actively questioning witnesses and reviewing security camera footage to unravel the sequence of events.
However, what is clear, according to De Wilde, is that “the barrier was closed and the red light was on” at the time of the accident.
On-site reports from an Associated Press journalist depict a scene of devastation, with the minibus lying on its side, its front section severely crushed, highlighting the force of the impact.
An Associated Press reporter at the scene said the badly damaged bus lay toppled on its side, its front section crushed flat.
Forensic experts in protective white suits and wearing gloves were taking photos of the scene. A forensics tent was erected nearby. The train was relatively unscathed.
The train was estimated to be travelling at about 120km/h as it approached the crossing and had “no time to brake”, said Frédéric Sacré, a spokesman for Belgian rail operator Infrabel.
“The impact was extremely violent,” Sacré told RTBF public broadcaster.
Federal Police spokesperson An Berger said that the bus driver appeared to have ploughed through the train barrier.
Infrabel said that the crossing was working correctly. A security camera there showed that the bus, which had nine people aboard, was still moving when the train hit it.
It’s believed that 100 passengers were aboard the train and that none of them were hurt. Rail traffic in the area was halted and bus services provided for travellers. Local officials stood for a minute’s silence after the news conference.
Children played basketball and rode bicycles at a school not far from the scene in this bucolic town.
In a social media post, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed “great sadness” over “the tragic accident in Buggenhout, where a school bus was struck by a train”.
“My thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones,” he said.
