A minibus transporting secondary school special needs students—7 in total—along with the driver and a caretaker, was violently struck by a train at a railway crossing in the town of Buggenhout. This resulted in multiple fatalities. Officials confirmed that the warning signals and railway crossing barriers were operating normally at the time of the accident.
The accident occurred at approximately 08:15 local time today (26 May) at the railway crossing between Stationsstraat and Vierhuizen streets in Buggenhout, East Flanders province, Belgium.
An Berger, spokesperson for the Belgian Federal Police, confirmed that the vehicle hit was a school minibus for special education. There were nine people aboard: seven secondary school students, one driver, and one caretaker. The impact caused several fatalities at the scene. Emergency medical personnel urgently performed CPR on the injured. Police have not yet disclosed exact numbers or statuses of fatalities, pending notification of families. Relatives are currently receiving psychological support from specialists at a nearby school.
Thomas Baken, spokesperson for Infrabel, Belgium’s railway infrastructure management company, stated that the collision was extremely severe and caused significant loss. System checks confirmed that at the time of the accident, the traffic lights at the crossing were red and the railway barriers were fully lowered, functioning according to all safety protocols.
"The train driver attempted an emergency brake with all possible effort, but the close distance prevented the train from stopping in time. We are urgently investigating how the bus came onto the tracks at that moment. At this time, our primary concern is our thoughts and prayers for those who have lost their lives and their families," he said.
Meanwhile, Gert Hermans, mayor of Buggenhout, stated that the bus had been traveling from Kerkhofstraat and moved onto the railway tracks while the warning system and barriers were active. Investigators are working to recover evidence to determine the exact cause.
The Belgian National Railway Company reported that approximately 100 passengers were aboard the train. None sustained physical injuries, and all were safely evacuated by firefighters. Only one passenger experienced severe shock.
One train passenger recounted the near-death experience: "Everything happened very quickly in just a few seconds. We heard a loud crash; the train shook, and the front window shattered. At that moment, we didn’t know what had happened until I looked out the window and saw a person, believed to be the minibus driver, thrown out of the vehicle."
Following the tragic incident, Annelies Verlinden, Belgium’s Minister of Justice and the North Sea, posted a message on X expressing condolences for the tragedy.
"There are no words to express our feelings about the collision between a train and a school bus in Buggenhout today. I extend my deepest sympathies to the victims, the children, their families, and all affected by this tragedy. I thank the rescue teams and police who responded quickly and tirelessly. The Public Prosecutor’s Office will closely monitor and investigate the cause of this accident," she wrote.