Horror in Belgium as Train smashes into school bus, several feared dead

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Several people have been killed after a passenger train slammed into a school bus at a railway crossing in Belgium, triggering a major emergency response and renewed concerns over rail safety in Europe.

The tragic collision occurred on Tuesday morning in the town of Buggenhout, located between Brussels and Antwerp, when the train crashed into a minibus transporting schoolchildren at a level crossing. Initial reports indicated that the impact happened around 8:15 a.m. local time.

Belgian authorities have yet to release an official death toll, but local media and emergency sources confirmed that multiple fatalities were recorded, while several others sustained injuries.

Rescue workers, police officers and railway investigators flooded the scene shortly after the crash as stunned residents watched emergency helicopters and ambulances move in.

According to preliminary findings, the school minibus reportedly entered the crossing despite warning barriers being down and traffic signals showing red.

Belgian rail infrastructure operator Infrabel said CCTV footage from the crossing suggested the protective barriers had already been activated before the collision occurred.

The force of the impact severely damaged the bus, scattering debris across the rail tracks and surrounding road. Witnesses described scenes of panic and confusion as rescue teams battled to reach victims trapped inside the wreckage.

Authorities confirmed that passengers aboard the train escaped without serious physical injuries, although many were reportedly treated for shock following the horrifying incident.

Belgium’s Interior Minister, Bernard Quintin, expressed grief over the disaster, saying the country was in mourning over the loss of lives.

“My thoughts are with the victims, their families and everyone affected by this terrible tragedy,” the minister said in a message shared shortly after the crash.

Investigators are now working to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the collision, including why the school bus entered the crossing despite active warning systems. Prosecutors and railway safety officials have launched parallel inquiries into the incident.