Multiple people have died after a school bus collided with a train in Belgium.
The crash, which has also left several people injured, took place at around 8.15am local time (7.15am GMT) on Tuesday at the crossing at Stationsstraat in Buggenhout.
Belgium’s transport minister, Jean-Luc Crucke, confirmed two teenagers, the bus driver and another adult are among those who died in the collision, which he described as ‘tragic’.
He said: ‘My first thoughts are with the victims, but also with those who were injured and their families.’
Images of the crash showed a vehicle, thought to be the bus, had been flipped onto its side.
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Rail operator Infrabel said barriers to stop traffic as the train passed were down, and warning lights were active when the collision took place.
It is understood that around 100 passengers were onboard the train and nine people – the driver, an attendant, and seven secondary school-aged children – were on the bus.
VRT News added: ‘The children were attending a school for special needs children.’
Belgium’s justice minister Annelies Verlinden said ‘words fail’ to describe how she felt following the news.
In a post to social media, she said: ‘My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the victims, the children, their families, and everyone affected by this tragedy today. I wish everyone much warm closeness.
‘Thank you to the emergency services and the police for their swift intervention and their sustained efforts on site. The prosecutor’s office is of course also continuing to follow up on this accident.’
According to local news outlet De Morgen, the minibus was transporting pupils to a school that offers special education, known as SEND in the UK.
Police said the incident ‘mainly concerns children from secondary education.’
‘The family members are now being informed personally first,’ officers added.
‘They are currently being cared for and supported at a nearby school.’
The cause of the crash is under investigation.