‘Extremely violent’: 2 teenagers among 4 dead in Belgium after train hits school bus
The victims also included the bus driver and an adult accompanying the pupils, RTL quoted Crucke as saying. Two other people were also severely injured.
The accident occurred early on Tuesday at a level crossing near Buggenhout station, about 23km (14 miles) from Brussels. Crucke said security cameras showed that the crossing’s security barriers had come down.
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said on social media that “it is with deep sadness that I learned of the tragic accident that occurred in Buggenhout”.
Belgian media showed images of a badly damaged minibus lying on its side on a road next to a railway line, with tents set up by emergency workers around.
Police told the media that seven children, a supervisor and a driver were aboard the minibus.