Austria may opt to close border on increased refugees

Vienna: Border closure would be an option in case of congested refugees in Austria on their way to Germany, Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner has said.

The comments followed unpredictable scenarios as a huge number of migrants are making their way through Austria into Germany, Xinhua news agency reported.

About 10,000 migrants arrive in Germany each day, with indications from multiple sources that its authorities are increasingly overwhelmed by the numbers.

Concerns are mounting in Austria that Germany may finally close its borders to migrants permanently.
Mikl-Leitner on Tuesday said should the migrants heading to Germany become stuck in Austria, the only option available will be shutting down the borders.

She said Austrian government is however in close contact with German authorities to monitor the situation.
The minister also called for a European solution to the problem.
Tight border restrictions by Germany could create a backlog of migrants in Austria, Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann said on Tuesday.

Faymann said he did not believe Germany would close its border totally after a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the weekend.

IANS