14 migrants crushed to death by train

No fewer than 14 migrants headed to Western Europe from Macedonia have been crushed to death by a train said to be travelling to the Serbian capital Belgrade.

Reports say the migrants were part of a group of about 50 people, mainly from Somalia and Afghanistan.

According to BBC, the accident happened on a well-trodden migrant route at a remote location near the central Macedonian city of Veles on Thursday night.

Migrants reportedly often used the rail track as a guide while heading north after landing in Greece.

People fleeing war, poverty and repression in the Middle East and Africa are increasingly turning to the Balkans as a land route to western Europe, deemed safer than crossing from Libya to Italy by boat.

Due to the difficult terrain of the accident site, rescue efforts were unfortunately hampered as the area is said to be accessible only by foot or railway.