High-Speed Train Collides with School Bus in Northern Belgium
New Delhi: In northern Belgium, a bus collided with a high-speed train. The accident resulted in the deaths of four people, including two children, while five other children sustained injuries. Prosecutors provided this information on Tuesday.
Lisa De Wilde, a spokesperson for Infrabel—Belgium's rail operator—stated during a press conference that the injured children were transported to a hospital in critical condition.
The accident occurred at a level crossing near the town of Buggenhout, located approximately 30 kilometers northwest of the capital, Brussels, during the busy morning rush hour.
She confirmed that the deceased include the minibus driver, a conductor, and two children. She added that the exact cause of the accident remains unclear.
Investigators are currently questioning eyewitnesses and reviewing footage from nearby surveillance cameras. "What we know is that the barrier was down and the red warning lights were flashing," she said.
Train Traveling at 120 km/h
The spokesperson noted that the train was traveling at a speed of approximately 120 kilometers per hour as it approached the crossing and did not have sufficient time to apply its brakes.
Forensic Experts Conduct Investigation
Speaking to the public broadcaster RTBF, she described the collision as "extremely horrific." According to an Associated Press reporter, the mangled bus lay overturned at the scene of the accident.
Forensic experts, clad in white protective suits and gloves, were seen taking photographs of the site. A white tent has been erected nearby. The train sustained relatively minor damage.
Belgian Interior Minister Expresses Condolences
Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed his condolences regarding the accident in a social media post, confirming that a school bus had been struck by a train. My deepest sympathies are with the victims and their families.
