Migrant crisis: Hungary reopens Serbian border as 13 die in ferry and dinghy collision near Turkish shores
As the influx of migrants pouring into Europe continues to grow, Hungary has reopened its main border with Serbia, following a week of tension and several bouts with thousands of migrants trying to get into its territory.
According to ABC News, thousands of refugees have hurriedly boarded buses and trains to travel toward the Austrian border after receiving news that the Hungarian and Serbian interior ministers both agreed to reopen the Horgos-Roszke crossing, which was closed since last Monday.
Hungarian interior minister Sandor Pinter said, "The situation dictated the closure [of the border crossing]," but after several talks and cooperation with the Serbian government, the issues have been solved and the parties came up with the decision to reopen the border.
Piner and Serbian counterpart Nebojsa Stefanovic both decided that it was time to reopen the gates on the highway that was considered to be the main route connecting Belgrade to Budapest before the migrant crisis.
When the border was first closed, clashes occurred between the police and the refugees wherein the world saw an exchange of tear gas, water cannons, stones, and water bottles.
With no way to get into Hungary and Serbia, some of the thousands who were locked out of the European states moved toward other routes in western and northern Europe, mostly flooding in Croatia as it was reported that over 25,000 refugees have entered the territory in the past week.
Meanwhile, BBC News reports that a collision between a ferry and a dinghy loaded with migrants resulted to the death of at least 13 of the asylum seekers who were on their way to the Greek island of Lesbos.
Greece's coastguard also said that in another incident, 26 people were feared to be missing, those who boarded a boat off Lesbos.
Turkey's coastguard has reportedly raised the alarm and sent a helicopter and six rescue boats to the area where the collision happened. While eight people were rescued and one was reported to be seriously injured, some sources say four of the dead were kids.