​EU continues to be deeply divided over migrants

Record numbers of migrants crossing the Balkans into Hungary have forced the Austrian government to shut down cross-border train services.

Migrants rush across the border between Hungary and Austria - Photo: AFP

Germany has warned that a plan to redistribute 160,000 migrants to member states is just "a drop in the ocean", AFP reported.

Meanwhile, eastern European members such as Romania and Slovakia continue to oppose mandatory quotas from Brussels.

EU lawmakers have called on the United States, Australia, the United Nations and Arab states to join in. But so far the wealthy Arab states have steadfastly refused to take in the refugees.

Hungarian police said 3,321 migrants rushed across the border in just 24 hours, fearing the country's new anti-immigrant law coming into effect and a new anti-immigrant fence being built.

Along the Serbian border, about 5,000 migrants have arrived at the border post. Further south, at Macedonia's border with Greece, AFP reporters recorded about 50 buses carrying more than 2,500 migrants and three trains carrying about 3,000 people leaving the town of Gevgelija.

The UN migration agency has previously warned that Hungary will face at least 42,000 migrants arriving next week.

Hungarian police are also struggling to control and register new arrivals as they break through barriers and try to board trains and buses heading to Austria.

Austria's train operator has also called on bus companies and volunteer agencies to stop transporting migrants to stations due to overcrowding.

According to TTO