Four people, including two children aged 12 and 15, have died after a train hit a school bus in northern Belgium.
The crash occurred at a level crossing in the town of Buggenhout in the Flanders region.
The minibus was carrying seven pupils with additional needs to their school, and a chaperone, a Belgian federal police spokesperson said.
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.
RTL TV reported, Transport Minister Jean-Luc Crucke as saying that the victims included the 49-year-old bus driver and the adult accompanying the pupils, who was aged 27.
Two other children were also severely injured, he added.
Police spokesperson An Berger said the crossing's safety barriers were down when the accident happened. It was unclear how the van got through the barriers and into the path of the train, whose 100-odd passengers did not suffer any major injuries.
"The van came from Kerkhofstraat, a road running parallel to the railway line, and turned left toward Vierhuizen, crossing the railway at a point that was closed at the time. The van was hit by an oncoming train," Ms Berger said.
A spokesman for the rail network operator Infrabel said the collision happened at a level crossing. It is understood that it happened about 1km from the Buggenhout station.
"The impact was extremely violent," the spokesman said, describing the toll as "dramatic".
"It happened at around 8.08am when a minibus was struck by a train that was due to stop at the next station, which was about a kilometre away," he said.
Local transport operator De Lijn said the vehicle, operated through a sub-contractor, had no mechanical issues and the driver was medically fit, was fully trained and had a clean record.
I was heartbroken to learn of the tragic accident between a train and a school bus in Buggenhout today.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 26, 2026
My deepest condolences go out to the victims' families and their loved ones.
Today, Europe grieves with Belgium.
'Europe grieves with Belgium' - von der Leyen
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered condolences on X: "Today, Europe grieves with Belgium."
Belgian interior minister Bernard Quintin wrote on X: "With great dismay, I learnt of the tragic accident in Buggenhout, where a school bus was struck by a train.
"My thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones. I wish the injured much strength."
"What could have been a beautiful spring morning suddenly turned into a pitch-black day," East Flanders Provincial Deputy Kurt Moens told news outlet VRT NWS.
Belgium, where a dense railway network criss-crosses towns and villages, has a history of accidents at level crossings.
Since 2021, 36 people have died in 168 such accidents, according to Infrabel's website.
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