Train Collision with School Van in Belgium Causes Fatalities

A devastating train accident occurred near Brussels, Belgium, on Tuesday morning, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including two children. Authorities have reported that the van involved was carrying schoolchildren from a special education school.

According to Kurt Moens, a provincial deputy for East Flanders responsible for education, the incident took place in Buggenhout, the crash site. Seven children, along with a driver and a counselor, were in the van at the time of the incident, confirmed by local reports and officials.

Thomas Baeken, a spokesman for Infrabel, stated that despite the barrier being down and red lights activated at the crossing, the van bypassed these warnings and moved onto the tracks. The train’s emergency brake was non-effective in preventing the crash, which occurred at 8:08 a.m. Video footage of the event will aid the ongoing investigation.

“We are heartbroken,” Baeken expressed over the tragedy.

Buggenhout is located less than 20 miles from central Brussels. The fatalities included two children aged 12 and 15, a 49-year-old driver, and a 27-year-old counselor, reported Lisa De Wilde, the spokeswoman for the East Flanders public prosecutor’s office.

Additionally, five minors were transferred to a hospital in critical condition. Thankfully, their status was stable by the time of the news conference, which was held shortly before 1 p.m. in Belgium.

The tragic event prompted condolences from Belgian and European figures. Bernard Quintin, Belgium’s interior minister, expressed his sorrow and support on social media, extending his thoughts to the victims and their families. Similarly, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Union’s executive arm, shared her grief on social media, stating, “Today, Europe grieves with Belgium.”

A correction noted an earlier error in the picture caption date, clarifying that the photo was indeed taken on a Tuesday.

Koba Ryckewaert and Jeanna Smialek provided reporting and oversight from Brussels for The Times.