School Bus Hit By Train In Belgium’s Buggenhout, Casualties Feared
Train hits school bus in Belgium; several feared dead after collision in Buggenhout.
Several people are feared dead after a train collided with a school bus at a level crossing in the Belgian town of Buggenhout on Tuesday morning, in an accident described by officials as “extremely violent.” According to a source quoted by Reuters, the collision occurred when a train struck a school bus at a railway crossing in the northern Flanders region.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact number of fatalities or injuries, but early reports suggest multiple casualties, with emergency services continuing rescue and recovery operations at the scene. Belgium’s rail network operator Infrabel said the impact of the collision was severe. Spokesperson Frédéric Sacré stated that the train struck a minibus at around 8:08 am local time.
He added that the train involved was scheduled to stop at the next station, located roughly one kilometre from the site of the crash, underscoring the suddenness of the impact. Belgium’s Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed deep sorrow over the incident in a post on social media platform X, saying he had learned of the “tragic accident in Buggenhout” involving a school bus struck by a train.
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He extended condolences to the victims and their families and wished strength to those injured. However, he did not provide specific casualty figures, which remain unverified. Emergency responders, including police and medical teams, were deployed immediately to the scene to assist survivors and secure the area. The condition of those injured has not yet been officially disclosed, and authorities have urged caution as the situation remains fluid and under investigation.
Rail traffic in the area has been disrupted as investigators examine the circumstances leading to the collision, including how the bus came to be on the tracks at the time of impact. Officials are expected to release further details once identification of victims and initial forensic assessments are completed.
The incident has prompted widespread shock in Belgium, particularly given the involvement of a school transport vehicle. Authorities have said a full inquiry will be launched to determine the cause of the accident and assess whether any safety failures contributed to the tragedy.
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