HAMILO, Greece (AP) – Hundreds of refugees and migrants stranded in Greece are crossing into neighboring Macedonia, defying border closures by Balkan countries.
Several hundred people are making their way across the border after walking for hours in heavy rain and wading across a river – many holding children and their belongings over their heads as they crossed thigh-deep in the water.
The migrants then found a break in the border fence near the Greek village of Hamilo, and crossed into Macedonia.
In chaotic scenes, Greek and international volunteers helped the migrants across the river, using a rope to help them through the fast-flowing water. Earlier in the day, Macedonian police found the bodies of three people thought to be migrants crossing a river in a nearby area.
Macedonia’s border has been sealed for the past 10 days, following transit restrictions imposed by EU-member Austria.