20,000 refugees arrive in Austria in just two days

They arrived by bus, train and on foot from European countries overwhelmed by the human tide escaping war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Meanwhile at least 39 migrants, including six children, drowned in two boat tragedies off the coast of Turkey. 

On land, thousands undertaking the gruelling journey in search of a better life in Western Europe continued to arrive at borders in the Balkans.

In extraordinary scenes, more than 20,000 crossed into Austria over the weekend – more than the 17,395 who claimed asylum in the country in April to June.

Determined to reach Germany, Scandinavia or the UK, exhausted migrants arrived at the Nickelsdorf crossing with Hungary.

As they flocked over the border, Budapest abruptly decided to reopen the Horgos-Roszke highway crossing on its southern border with Serbia, although it insisted strict checks would remain in place. 

On Monday last week, Hungary – which has received 54,000 migrants this year – sealed its border with Serbia and made it a criminal offence to cross it.

Relations between the two countries have been complicated by Hungary’s decision to construct a razor wire fence along its 110-mile border with Serbia to keep migrants out.

Barricading the border forced thousands to push west, seeking an alternative route via Croatia.

But after 25,000 migrants entered its territory in four days, Zagreb transported them over its border with Hungary.

From there, the Hungarian authorities shuttled them to reception centres close to the border with Austria. Migrants have been able to move easily through there.

Yesterday evening, two trains from Austria carrying 1,000 migrants crossed the border with Germany at Freilassing.

Five more trains, each carrying 500, are expected to make the journey today.

Elsewhere, at least 13 migrants, including six children, died when their inflatable dinghy collided with a ferry off Turkey.

The Turkish coastguard said the accident happened close to the port of Canakkale after the boat set sail to the Greek island of Lesbos.

In a second incident, Greece’s coastguard said it had rescued 22 migrants in the water near Lesbos – but a further 26 were missing. 

(dailymail.co.uk)