Belgium is mourning a devastating school transport tragedy after a passenger train struck a minibus carrying children at a level crossing in Buggenhout, East Flanders, killing four people, including two children.
The crash happened on Tuesday morning at around 8:15 a.m. near the railway crossing at Stationsstraat and Vierhuizen. The vehicle was being used for school transport and had seven students, a supervisor and a driver inside when it was hit by the train.
🔄4 dead and multiple injured after a train collided with a school bus in Buggenhout, Belgium.
— News.Az (@news_az) May 26, 2026
Belgium has one of the densest rail networks in the world and a history of accidents at level crossings… https://t.co/3TFNep1Rph pic.twitter.com/8F8ZrZtCdf
Federal Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke confirmed that the dead were two children, the driver of the van and the adult supervisor. The students were from Richtpunt Campus Buggenhout, a special education secondary school. The school later informed parents that emergency services were on site and that official updates would be shared once verified.
Early details from police and rail operator Infrabel point to one of the most serious questions now facing investigators: why did the minibus enter the crossing when the warning system was active? Officials said the barriers were closed and the traffic lights were red at the time of impact. Camera footage reportedly supports that account.
Police spokesperson An Berger said the van came from Kerkhofstraat, turned left toward Vierhuizen and crossed the railway despite the closed barrier. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether this was caused by driver error, confusion, visibility, traffic pressure or another factor. Prosecutors, railway police, traffic experts and forensic teams are now examining the scene.
Infrabel spokesperson Thomas Baeken said the train driver triggered the emergency brake, but the train could not stop in time. The train was already slowing because it was about one kilometre from Buggenhout station, but the impact was still severe enough to leave the school van wrecked on its side beside the tracks.
About 100 passengers were on board the train. None were physically injured, though one person was treated for shock. Rail services between Dendermonde and Londerzeel were heavily disrupted after the crash, with replacement buses arranged while emergency teams worked at the crossing.
Emergency services responded in large numbers, including ambulances and medical intervention teams. Family members of the children were taken care of nearby while authorities worked to formally identify victims and notify relatives before releasing further details.
The municipality of Buggenhout opened an information line at 0800 99 110 and set up a press centre for official communication. Belgian ministers and local officials described the crash as a heartbreaking national tragedy, with condolences sent to the families, classmates, school staff and emergency workers involved.
The case is likely to renew scrutiny of level-crossing safety, especially where school transport routes pass over railway lines. While Belgium has long worked to reduce risks at crossings, this crash shows how a few seconds at a closed barrier can become fatal.
Readers can follow official rail disruption updates through SNCB Belgian Train. For related transport safety coverage, Swikblog has also reported on the Denmark train crash near Copenhagen.
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