Authorities probe Buggenhout train collision with school minibus
A train collided with a school minibus in buggenhout at 8:08 a.m., and authorities said there were multiple deaths. The minibus was carrying 7 schoolchildren, a caregiver and the driver on the way across a railway crossing.
Federal police spokesperson An Berger said authorities were not yet giving information about the victims. She said the families were being informed first and were being received at a school nearby.
Richtpunt Campus Buggenhout
The minibus was used for school transport for Richtpunt Campus Buggenhout, a school for special education. The school told parents that emergency services were on the scene and that it could not officially communicate yet.
The vehicle came from the Kerkhofstraat, a parallel road with the railway line, and turned left toward Vierhuizen across the crossing before the train struck it. The crossing was closed at the time of the collision. Railway police had already carried out the first findings, and the prosecutor's office was due to go to the scene with a traffic expert and the laboratory.
Buggenhout Information Line
Buggenhout opened an information number at 0800 99 110 as families waited for updates. A formal press moment was planned later in the day for more explanation about the accident.
Province of East Flanders deputy Kurt Moens said, “Wat een mooie lenteochtend had kunnen worden, veranderde plots in een gitzwarte dag.” He also said, “Het ongeval in Buggenhout raakt ons allemaal heel erg. Ik betuig mijn diepste medeleven aan de families van de slachtoffers en wens de gewonden veel sterkte toe. Met het crisisteam in Buggenhout volgen we de situatie nauw op en ik kan alleen maar mijn respect betuigen voor de professionele manier van handelen van onze hulpverleners.”
De Lijn Response
The minibus was operating as subcontractor work for De Lijn, and spokesperson Jens Van Herp said the company was working with emergency services to support and guide those affected. He said, “Onze gedachten zijn nu bij de slachtoffers en hun familieleden” and “De Lijn doet er alles aan om met de hulpdiensten samen te werken om hen zo goed mogelijk bij te staan, te steunen en te begeleiden'.”
Annick De Ridder, Zuhal Demir and Annelies Verlinden all posted messages of sympathy after the crash, while the families remained the first priority in the response. The school, police and municipality were all moving on the same immediate question: helping relatives and gathering the facts before anyone spoke publicly about the victims.
