A commemoration ceremony was held on Saturday, 15 February in Buizingen, for the victims of one of the biggest railway accidents in Belgian history 15 years ago.
On 15 February 2010, two trains clashed on the tracks near Buizingen, leading to 19 deaths. Over 150 further passengers suffered injuries. Most of the victims were said to be travelling from the Mons-Borinage region in a packed vehicle during the morning rush hour. "We prove that we don't forget the victims and then we find ourselves together because, in fact, we have created a new family," a relative of one of the victims told RTL on Saturday.
Over a decade after the incident, people are still concerned about the existing safety regulations and the consequences of the tragedy. "You realise that the railways are less safe than you might think. We are fighting for railway safety. We got a good result in court, which is positive," Anita Mahy, a survivor of the collision who has since been advocating for justice for the affected families told Le Soir.
Besides court cases and protests, a stele was also installed on Buizingen's town square to commemorate all victims. People in Mons, where most of the passengers were from, are hoping to see a similar memorial in their city soon.
