An investigation is underway after four people, including two children, were killed when a school minibus collided with a train in northern Belgium. Five children were also injured in the crash, which happened at a level crossing near the small town of Buggenhout in Flanders on Tuesday.
Belgium’s transport minister, Jean-Luc Crucke, told RTL TV that two young people, the bus driver, and an adult who was with the children had died. “My first thoughts are with the victims, but also with those who are injured and their families,” he said.
The other five passengers in the bus, all children, were taken to hospital with serious injuries but are said to be in stable condition.
The crash happened just after 8am on Tuesday when a school minivan hit a train traveling from Bruges to Buggenhout, about 14 miles (22km) north of Brussels.
The bus reportedly tried to cross the level crossing even though the barriers were down and a red light was flashing. The train driver saw the van and hit the emergency brakes, but couldn’t avoid the collision.
A spokesperson for Infrabel, the rail network operator, told Flemish public broadcaster VRT: “We don’t know how this accident could have happened. That’s for the police and the public prosecutor’s office to investigate.”
A spokesperson for the public prosecutor told reporters that the four victims were two children aged 15 and 12, their 27-year-old chaperone, and the 49-year-old van driver.
TV footage showed the crumpled white minivan overturned on its side at the crossing, with ambulances and a helicopter nearby. According to a VRT reporter at the scene, the impact was so strong that the bus was thrown into the driveway of a house.
The children were on their way to a school for children with special educational needs in the town.
“What could have been a beautiful spring morning suddenly turned into a pitch-black day,” Kurt Moens, the East Flanders politician responsible for the school, told local media. “The accident in Buggenhout affects us all very deeply. I offer my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wish the injured a lot of strength.”
Belgium’s prime minister, Bart De Wever, wrote on X that he was “deeply moved by the horrific accident in Buggenhout. My thoughts are with the affected families.”
The national rail operator SNCB/NMBS said the train was carrying about 100 people, none of whom were injured. “One passenger was in shock, but no one on the train was hurt,” a spokesperson told local media. The passengers were evacuated to a local fire station.
Belgium has one of the oldest railway networks in Europe, with many lines, and has a history of accidents at level crossings, though the number has been going down.
In 2024, five people died and nine were seriously injured in accidents at level crossings, according to Infrabel’s latest annual report. The operator reported 30 accidents that year, which news agency Belga and the Brussels Times said was historically low, compared to an average of 45-50 accidents between 2008 and 2021.
Over the last 21 years, Infrabel has removed 450 level crossings from the network to improve safety, leaving about 1,600 still in place.
Among condolences from across Europe, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said she was heartbroken to learn of the accident. “Today, Europe grieves with Belgium,” she said.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about the train and school bus collision in Belgium written in a natural tone with clear concise answers
Frequently Asked Questions Belgium TrainSchool Bus Collision
1 What exactly happened
A train hit a school bus at a railroad crossing in Belgium The bus was carrying students home from school
2 How many people died
Four people died in the crash
3 Were any of the victims children
Yes The bus was carrying schoolchildren The four people who died were all on the bus
4 How many people were injured
Several other people were injured some of them seriously The exact number changed as people were treated in hospitals
5 Where in Belgium did this happen
The crash happened near the town of Leuven in the Flemish region of Belgium
6 What caused the accident
Investigators believe the bus driver drove onto the crossing while the barriers were already down or coming down The train had no time to stop The exact reason why the driver did that is still under investigation
7 Was the train driver hurt
Yes the train driver was also injured and taken to the hospital but their injuries were not lifethreatening
8 Was the bus driver one of the people who died
Yes the bus driver was among the four people who died in the collision
9 How fast was the train going
The train was a passenger train traveling at normal speed on the line which is typically around 8090 kmh in that area It did not have time to brake significantly
10 Were the crossing barriers working properly
Initial reports from the rail operator indicated that the barriers and warning lights at the crossing were functioning correctly at the time of the crash
11 Is this a common type of accident in Belgium
No it is very rare Level crossing accidents happen but a collision involving a school bus with multiple fatalities is an extremely unusual and tragic event in Belgium
12 What is being done to prevent this from happening again
The investigation is looking into the drivers actions and the crossings design In response there are often renewed calls for more safety measures at level crossings such as additional barriers or better warning systems especially near schools
