Brussels—A tragic accident occurred in Belgium when a train collided with a school minibus on Tuesday. The crash at the railway crossing in Buggenhout resulted in multiple casualties, as confirmed by Interior Minister Bernard Quintin.
Two anonymous sources reported to AFP that several individuals onboard the minibus died in the crash. This information aligns with a local source cited in a Reuters report, though official confirmation from police or authorities is still pending. Minister Quintin expressed his profound sadness, stating, “My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I wish strength to those injured.”
Photos from the scene depict the minibus overturned next to the railway track with severe front-end damage. Emergency services responded promptly to the crash site at Vierhuizen railway crossing.
Frederic Sacre, spokesperson for the Belgian rail network operator, described the collision’s impact as incredibly severe and the aftermath as tragic. He noted the incident happened around 8:08 AM when the train, scheduled to stop at a nearby station a kilometer away, struck the minibus.
The community and authorities are processing the devastating event as investigations continue.