Overview
- A passenger train struck a school minibus at a level crossing in Buggenhout in northern Flanders during the morning commute, with reports placing the impact at about 8:08–8:15 Tuesday.
- The minibus was carrying secondary-school pupils from a special-education centre and witnesses and officials described an extremely violent collision.
- Infrabel, the Belgian rail operator, said the crossing barriers were down and the warning lights were active when the crash occurred and the train driver applied the emergency brake but could not avoid impact.
- Several media outlets and some ministers reported deaths including specific but unconfirmed counts, while police and the public prosecutor have not yet issued an official casualty toll and family notification is under way.
- Federal police, the public prosecutor and emergency services are investigating on site, Infrabel says it is cooperating, and authorities have said they will release confirmed casualty details when family contact and initial inquiries allow.