A bus was evacuated just seconds before a train split it in half on a level crossing.
An almighty roar could be heard as the fast-moving loco ploughed through the side of the single-decker.
The collision happened just four minutes after the bus broke down on the tracks.
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Twenty children were on the bus at the time, according to local media.
The driver evacuated them in the nick of time, and no one was left on board at the time of the collision.
The bus was torn to pieces by the force of the collision in Veldegem, Belgium on Friday (November 29) morning.
According to Belgian rail operator Infrabel, the emergency number was called too late.
As a result, there wasn’t enough time to halt the train before it reached the level crossing.
An Infrabel spokesperson told local media: “The train driver did apply the emergency brake but could not avoid the collision.”
The accident caused the train to partially derail and come to a stop several hundred metres further down the track.
National Railway Company of Belgium spokesperson Bart Crols said: “One or two train passengers suffered minor injuries.
“These people were treated on the spot and then taken to a hospital for further examination.”
The overhead cables, the clamps that hold the tracks together, and the barrier at the start of the crossing also sustained damage.
The crash caused disruption to train services across the whole of West Flanders Province, as reported by Need To Know.
The Infrabel spokesperson said: “We expect the repairs will take the whole weekend.”
A house near the crossing also sustained damage in Friday’s collision.
Luckily, occupant Nick Vermeulen wasn’t in at the time.
He told local media: “I quickly took a look inside and saw a large crack in the wall. Some things had fallen off the wall and were broken.
“If the bus had flown a bit further, the entire facade would have been destroyed.”
Mayor Annick Vermeulen praised the bus driver for evacuating all the passengers in time.
She said: “The driver deserves all the praise. With his decisive action, he prevented a tragedy.”
There will be an investigation into why the bus broke down.
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