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Austrian authorities may be forced to open border barriers again as migrant influx intensifies

Xinhua, October 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

A heavy influx of migrants wishing to enter Austria via the southern border town of Spielfeld on Wednesday evening has led state police to prepare to open barriers for safety reasons once again.

Kronen Zeitung reported about 2,500 people had gathered in Spielfeld by evening, with a further 1,500 just on the other side of the border with Slovenia. Reports from Slovenian authorities suggest a further 2,000 people could also be on the way from the nearby Sentilj municipality.

Thus a potential 6,000 total persons could over a short space of time be congregated at the migrant gathering point in Spielfeld, a police spokesperson acknowledging the "floodgates" may have to be opened, as has already been done under similar circumstances over the past week, to avoid personal injury.

Police have to now attempted to bring calm to the crowds at the Spielfeld gathering point, using loudspeakers to communicate, along with an increased number of buses and several special train services used to ferry migrants onwards, including another yet to depart in the evening.

The authorities acknowledge however the capacity to contain the situation is rapidly approaching its limits. Endit