Berlin, September 6
Europe's refugee crisis has taken a new dimension in Germany with the arrival of over 8,000 asylum-seekers in the southern state of Bavaria from Hungary in one single day.
They are the largest group of refugees to land in this country in a single day since the current massive influx of migrants into Europe mainly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan that began nearly a month ago.
Their entry into Germany yesterday was made possible by an agreement between the German and Austrian governments on Friday to let in thousands of refugees who have been stranded for several days in the Hungarian capital Budapest.
Bavarian authorities said more than 6,000 refugees travelled to Munich between yesterday and another 2,000 people followed them late at night.
The refugees, who looked cheerful and relieved about ending their ordeal, were given a warm welcome by city authorities and the public as they arrived in Munich.
Most of them were later sent by special trains to preliminary reception centres and refugee shelters in different parts of the country.
Bavarian officials said they expected the refugee influx to continue in the coming days as several trains carrying them from Hungary are reported to be heading to the Austrian border.
Meanwhile, reports from Serbia said several thousand refugees are heading to the country in their desperate efforts to reach Hungary, the gateway to the European Union and to its Schengen passport-free travel area. — Reuters
