Nine people were reportedly on the bus at the time of the accident, including seven students
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/train-bus-accident-buggenhout-052626-2-be2d78e7d4964b6da358c68f8b7900df.jpg "Emergency services pictured at the scene of an accident between a train and a minivan, at the railway crossing Vierhuizen, in Buggenhout")
Credit: DIRK WAEM / BELGA MAG / Belga / AFP via Getty
Several people have died after a train collided with a school minibus in Belgium.
The accident occurred on the morning of Tuesday, May 26 at a level-crossing in Buggenhout, near the town's train station, Reuters reported.
Per Sky News, there were nine people on the bus at the time: a driver, an attendant and seven children.
“With great dismay, I learnt of 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. I wish the injured much strength,” Belgium’s interior minister Bernard Quintin wrote on X.
Thomas Baeken of rail track operator Infrabel told local outlet VRT NWS, "The collision took place at 8.08 am. Footage shows that the barriers were down and the traffic lights were red. We do not know how the accident could have happened."
He added, "The train was already braking. The train driver did apply the emergency brake, but was unable to avoid a collision."
This is a breaking news story.
