Fourteen migrants killed by train in Macedonia

At least 14 migrants from Somalia and Afghanistan were killed in central Macedonia when they were hit by an international passenger train, officials and police said on Friday.

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SKOPJE // At least 14 migrants from Somalia and Afghanistan were killed in central Macedonia when they were hit by an international passenger train, officials and police said on Friday.

The train driver reported seeing several dozen people sitting on or near the track at about 10.30pm (11.30pm UAE) on Thursday but was unable to stop in time, a local prosecutor said in a statement.

“The driver tried to alert them by horn and stop the train. Many managed to escape but 14 were killed,” the statement said, adding that the victims were from Afghanistan and Somalia.

Police spokeswoman Anita Stojkovska said in the past six months around a dozen migrants had been killed in similar incidents on the same stretch of line, near the central town of Veles.

Migrants walk along the line as they head north to reach European Union countries.

Tens of thousands of migrants and refugees attempt to reach central and western European countries by heading from Turkey to nearby Greek islands, then either try to sneak onto Italy-bound ferries, or head overland through the Balkans.

* Agencies