A train struck a minibus carrying school transport passengers at a railway crossing in Buggenhout at 8:08, and authorities said there were multiple deaths in the collision. The minibus was carrying 7 schoolchildren, a companion and the driver, and the impact turned a busy morning in the East Flanders town into a scene that emergency services were still working to secure later in the day.

The vehicle was serving Richtpunt Campus Buggenhout, a special education school, and the municipality opened an information line at 0800 99 110 for families seeking answers. School officials told parents that emergency services were on scene and that they could not officially communicate more at that moment, while a formal press moment with further explanation was planned for later the same day.

Kurt Moens said the crash had transformed what might have been a pleasant spring morning into what he called a black day. “Wat een mooie lenteochtend had kunnen worden, veranderde plots in een gitzwarte dag,” he said, adding that the accident in Buggenhout hit everyone hard and that he wanted to express deep sympathy to the families of the victims and strength to the injured.

Other senior officials also reacted on social media. Annick De Ridder wrote that she offered her deepest condolences and said it was “bijzonder zwaar en aangrijpend nieuws.” Zuhal Demir said her thoughts were with all the victims, their families and everyone closely involved, while Annelies Verlinden said words fell short after the accident in Buggenhout.

The first findings by the railway police had already been completed, and the public prosecutor was due to go to the scene. A traffic expert and the forensic lab were also present. An Berger said family members would be informed first and received at a nearby school, but police were not yet releasing information about the victims. “Daar willen we nog niets over zeggen,” she said, stressing that the investigation was still at an early stage.

What is known so far is that the minibus came from Kerkhofstraat, a parallel road to the railway line, and turned left toward Vierhuizen over the crossing, which was closed at the time of the collision. The bus was operating as a subcontractor for De Lijn, and Jens Van Herp said the transport company was working with emergency services to support, guide and help those affected. For Buggenhout, the immediate question is no longer how bad the damage is, but how many families are now waiting for the formal identification of the dead.