The miserable wave of humanity. PHOTOS
02.06.2016

The photos ilustrate how thousands of people trying to reach the heart of Europe surged across Serbia's border into Croatia after authorities eased restrictions that had left them stranded for days in ankle-deep mud and rain.

The miserable wave of humanity left behind a field scattered with soaked blankets, mud-caked clothing and water-logged tents as they headed for Slovenia, the next obstacle to their quest to reach richer European Union nations via the Balkans.

Surprise move allowed an estimated 3,000 more migrants to enter Croatia bound for its small Alpine neighbor, which also has been struggling to slow the flow of humanity across its frontiers — and faced another wave of trekkers seeking to reach Austria and Germany to the north.

 

A migrant with one leg sits on the border in a wheelchair with a friend, waiting to cross a border line between Serbia and Croatia, near the village of Berka...

Migrants  walk  after crossing from Croatia, in Brezice, Slovenia Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. Croatia's interior minister has rejected Slovenia's accusations that...

A group of migrants walk past a puddle after crossing from Croatia, in Brezice, Slovenia Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. Croatia's interior minister has rejected Slov...

A group of migrants walk on the road near a border line between Serbia and Croatia, near the village of Berkasovo, Serbia, Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. Tension was...

Group of migrants walking on the road near a border line between Serbia and Croatia, near the village of Berkasovo, Serbia, Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. Tension wa...

Migrants and refugees arrive on a dinghy from the Turkish coast to the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos, Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. More than 600,000 people, ...

A Syrian family triy to warm up after their arrival from the Turkish coast to the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos  in a dinghy, Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. Mo...

Migrants walk on a dyke after crossing from Croatia, in Brezice, Slovenia Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. Croatia's interior minister has rejected Slovenia's accusati...

Migrants walk past Slovenian police after crossing from Croatia, in Brezice, Slovenia Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. Croatia's interior minister has rejected Sloveni...

A group of migrants move below a police dog after crossing from Croatia, in Brezice, Slovenia Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. Croatia's interior minister has rejected...

Migrants are prevented from crossing into Slovenia at a border crossing between Croatia and Slovenia, in Trnovec  Croatia , Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. Hundreds o...

Migrants reach out for bread distributed by volunteers, at a border crossing between Croatia and Slovenia, in Trnovec, Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. Hundreds of mig...

Migrants reach out for bread distributed by volunteers, at a border crossing between Croatia and Slovenia, in Trnovec,  Croatia Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. Hundre...