Overview
- A passenger train struck a school minibus at the Vierhuizen level crossing in Buggenhout during the morning rush on Tuesday, killing four people including two children and severely injuring others.
- Officials say nine people were aboard the minibus — seven pupils from a special‑needs secondary school, a chaperone and the driver — while about 100 passengers on the train were evacuated unharmed.
- Infrabel and on‑scene footage show the crossing barriers were lowered and the red warning lights were active when the minibus entered the track and the train driver applied emergency brakes but could not avoid the collision.
- The East Flanders public prosecutor has opened a forensic investigation and is collecting CCTV, technical logs and witness statements while De Lijn says the vehicle had no reported mechanical faults and the driver was trained and medically fit.
- Belgium will watch the inquiry closely because level crossings are common across its dense rail network and past fatal incidents have put pressure on authorities to identify safety gaps and improve protections for vulnerable school transport.