Train collision kills four in Belgium
School minivan struck at crossing near Buggenhout station
Four people were killed when a passenger train struck a school minivan at a level crossing in East Flanders, local authorities said. The victims were two pupils, aged 12 and 15, the 49-year-old driver and a 27-year-old chaperone. The vehicle was carrying seven pupils and two adults when it was hit near Buggenhout station, north of Brussels; the minivan ended up on its side with its front heavily damaged. Several children suffered injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals, some in serious condition, while around 100 passengers aboard the train reported no major injuries.
Emergency services — including firefighters, police and medical teams — rushed to the scene to rescue survivors, secure the area and treat the wounded. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as responders worked amid scattered debris around the crossing. Rail operator Infrabel reported that the crossing lights were red and the safety barriers were down when the collision occurred, but it remained unclear how the minivan entered the tracks. A local prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation; authorities are examining the operation of signals and barriers, vehicle and driver actions, and any possible technical faults to determine the precise circumstances.
Rail services in the area were suspended while investigators inspected the site. Officials arranged counseling and support services for survivors, relatives and witnesses affected by the crash. Government representatives expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and commended the emergency personnel for their rapid response. The tragedy has prompted renewed scrutiny of level crossing safety, particularly for vehicles transporting schoolchildren, as investigators work to establish what led to the deadly collision.
