Several dead after train hits school bus in Belgium

Several people have died after a train hit a school bus in northern Belgium, officials have said.

The crash happened at a level crossing in the town of Buggenhout in the northern Flanders region.

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.

A spokesman for the rail network operator Infrabel told AFP 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.

In a post on X, he said: "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."