Croatia has just closed seven of its eight border crossings with Serbia amid a growing influx of migrants heading to Northern Europe.

BBC quoted officials in Zagreb as saying they had no other choice when more than 10,000 people poured into the country a day after Hungary closed its border with Serbia.

Meanwhile, Slovenia announced that it had intercepted a group of migrants on a boat and would return them to Croatia.

Croatian officials say all roads leading to border crossings will be blocked. The border crossing on the main road connecting Belgrade to Zagreb – at Bajakovo – appears to be the only remaining open.

According to a BBC correspondent, Croatia's latest move will cut off the main land route from Greece to northern Europe. The country has tried to move migrants to refugee centers, but due to overcrowding, many have been forced to wander the roads. They plan to walk north to neighboring Slovenia, a member of the EU's free movement area.

On September 17, the Croatian Interior Minister declared that his country was "overcrowded." His message to migrants was: "Don't come here anymore. Stay in refugee camps in Serbia, Macedonia, or Greece. This is not the way to Europe. Buses can't get you there; that's a lie."

Chaos erupted at two points on the border with Serbia on September 17th, after migrants were left waiting for hours to be transported further north. Angry individuals breached police barricades at Tovarnik and Batina – two closed border crossings. Police did not use force against them but held firm on the barriers. Eventually, they surrendered, and migrants streamed into Croatia.

Earlier, buses had arrived to take them away, but there weren't enough seats. Thousands were left behind, forced to sleep overnight on the roadside or in fields.

Hungary's closure of its border with Serbia has caused migrants to divert to Croatia, through which they travel to Western Europe. Hungary has faced widespread criticism after images emerged of Hungarian police dispersing migrants using tear gas and water cannons. The Budapest authorities have announced they will expand the fence along their border with Romania.

The wave of migration fleeing war and poverty, mainly from Syria, is creating a serious political crisis in the European Union.

Here are some images showing the crowds of migrants at Croatian border crossings:

According to VNN