Four people, including two teenagers, were killed on Tuesday morning when a train struck a school minibus at a level-crossing near the town of Buggenhout in northern Belgium. The victims included the bus driver and an adult accompanying the pupils. Five children were injured in the collision, with some reported to be in serious condition. The minibus, which was carrying nine people from a school for children with learning disabilities, was involved in what authorities described as a horrific and extremely violent accident.
The accident occurred during the morning rush hour approximately 23 kilometres from Brussels. According to railway infrastructure operator Infrabel and security camera footage, the crossing's security barriers had been lowered and the red light was showing at the time of the impact. An investigation is currently underway to determine how the school vehicle drove through the closed barriers to get onto the tracks.
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed deep sadness over the tragedy, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Europe grieved with Belgium. The incident occurs within a national context of frequent level-crossing accidents due to Belgium's dense railway network. Infrabel reported that five people died in such accidents in 2025, the lowest number recorded since 2020.