Thaindian News

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) — At least ten people were killed and dozens more were injured when two passenger trains collided head-on in the Belgian city of Buizingen, near Brussels, on Monday, officials said. One report said at least 25 people had been killed.

The accident happened around 8.28 a.m. local time when a train from Leuven to Braine-le-Comte collided head-on with a train from Quiévrain to Liege, which left the station in Buizingen about ten minutes later than scheduled. The first train had 6 carriages, the second had 12 carriages. Three of the carriages have overturned.

Provincial governor Lodewijk De Witte confirmed at least ten people had been killed in the accident. He said that 11 others, including a child, were seriously injured. De Witte said 100 to 150 people sustained minor or no injuries.

Victims from one of the carriages have still not been freed, hours after the crash, according to the governor. He said the number of casualties may still rise.

A spokeswoman for OLV Hospital Aalst, some 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) from the scene, said it had received two patients from the train crash. Both were not in a serious condition. She said the hospital was not expecting more patients, but said victims had been transported to hospitals throughout the entire region.

A city official said a provincial disaster plan has been declared, and that a crisis center has been established in the sports center of Buizingen. A provincial crisis center has also been opened in Leuven.

VRT, a Flemish public broadcasting organization, reported that at least 25 people had been killed. It said 10 people died in one train, while 15 others died in the other train.

Belgian railway infrastructure manager Infrabel said the trains involved were both driving, although it was not clear at what speed. A spokeswoman said the investigation into the crash had not yet begun, as an unknown number of people are still trapped inside the wreckage. “Our first priority is the victims,” she said, saying more information on what may have caused the crash could be available later this week.

Train services between Bergen and Brussels and train services between Brussels and Doornik have been disrupted, according to Kristien Berckmans, a spokeswoman for Infrabel.

International services between the Netherlands and Belgium, Belgium and France and between England and Belgium have also been disrupted. Eurostar services between London and Brussels have been “completely suspended,” it said in a statement. Eurostar said the services are expected to remain suspended for the rest of the day. Its Paris services have not been affected, while its Lille services are running with delays.

Dutch Railways said its services between Amsterdam Central and Paris-Nord have been affected, saying less trains than scheduled are departing.

King Albert II of Belgium will visit the scene later today, his office said. A spokeswoman said Albert would arrive after 4 p.m. local time, but had no exact time. She said he would not make a statement. Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme will join the King.

European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek called the crash a “tragic accident” and sent his condolences to the families of the victims. “This is a tragic accident, my sincere sympathies and condolences go the families of the victims and we wish those injured a speedy recovery,” Buzek said. “Our thoughts are with you.”