BRUSSELS – A dramatic collision between a passenger train and a minibus transporting children has left multiple people injured in northern Belgium, federal law enforcement officials confirmed Tuesday. The crash unfolded at an unprotected level crossing close to the small municipality of Buggenhout, located roughly 30 kilometers northwest of the country’s capital city. As of Tuesday afternoon, the full sequence of events leading to the incident remained unconfirmed, with authorities still working to piece together how the crash occurred. Federal police have confirmed that “several people” sustained harm in the collision, but declined to share additional information, including the full extent of injuries or the identities of those involved. Local private broadcaster VTM, however, has reported that a number of fatalities have been recorded at the scene, though official confirmation of this detail is still pending. A multi-disciplinary response team, including public prosecutors, forensic investigators, and national transport safety experts, was dispatched to the crash site shortly after the incident to launch a full investigation into the cause. In a public statement posted to social media, Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin offered his reaction to what he described as a devastating loss. “I feel great sadness over the tragic accident in Buggenhout, where a school bus was struck by a train,” Quintin wrote. “My thoughts are with the victims and all of their families and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.” The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, with emergency services remaining on site to coordinate response efforts through Tuesday afternoon.