A tragic accident in the Belgian town of Buggenhout on Tuesday morning claimed the lives of at least four people, including two children, after a train collided with a school bus at a railway crossing. Authorities fear the number of casualties and injuries could rise as rescue operations continue.

The accident took place in the northern Flanders region at around 8:08 am. According to officials, the school minibus was struck by a train near a level crossing just before the train was scheduled to stop at the next station, located roughly one kilometre away.

Officials described the impact as extremely severe. Emergency services quickly rushed to the scene, while rescue and relief efforts continued throughout the morning. Authorities have not yet released the exact number of injured passengers.

Belgium’s Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed grief over the tragic incident and shared condolences for the victims and their families. He stated that he was deeply saddened to learn about the accident in Buggenhout and wished strength and support to those injured in the collision.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also reacted to the tragedy, saying she was “heartbroken” by the incident. She extended condolences to the families of the victims and said that Europe stands with Belgium during this difficult time.

The collision has shocked the country, especially because children were among those killed. Investigations are expected to determine how the accident occurred and whether there were any failures at the railway crossing.

Authorities are likely to release more details once rescue teams complete operations and official identifications are confirmed.