A heartbreaking tragedy has shaken the community of Buggenhout in Belgium's East Flanders province. This past Tuesday morning, a devastating collision occurred when a school bus rammed into a train at a level crossing on Station Street, leaving four people dead. 🕊️
The accident happened around 8:15 a.m., a time when many students were starting their day. The bus was transporting seven students from a secondary school for special education, along with a chaperone and a driver. In a devastating turn of events, Belgium's Federal Minister of Mobility, Jean-Luc Crucke, confirmed that two teenagers, the driver, and the chaperone lost their lives in the crash.
According to Infrabel, the railway infrastructure manager, the safety measures were in place at the time of the impact—warning lights were red and the barriers were down. A spokesperson for Infrabel, Thomas Baeken, described the collision as a "very violent impact" and noted that the train driver had desperately attempted to use the emergency brakes to avoid the crash.
The incident caused immediate chaos for commuters, with rail traffic between Dendermonde and Londerzeel completely suspended and replacement buses deployed to help passengers reach their destinations. 🚌🚆
The news has sent shockwaves across Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shared her grief online, stating she was "heartbroken" and offering her deepest condolences to the families of the victims. "Today, Europe grieves with Belgium," she wrote.
Authorities are currently conducting a full investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to this tragedy. Our thoughts are with the students and families affected by this loss. 💔
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
