Germany bids to curb influx

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BERLIN — Germany announced Sunday that it was introducing temporary border checks on the Austrian frontier in a bid to limit the influx of refugees, and crossborder train services from Austria were suspended.

Germany and Austria agreed more than a week ago to let in migrants who had gathered in Hungary, saying it was a onetime emergency measure.

The influx has continued, and German officials said over the weekend that the speed of the arrivals was straining the country’s ability to provide accommodation.

“This step has become necessary,” Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said in Berlin. “The great readiness to help that Germany has shown in recent weeks . . . must not be overstretched.”

He said the move was “also a signal to Europe: Germany is facing up to its humanitarian responsibility, but the burdens connected with the large number of refugees must be distributed in solidarity within Europe.”

He didn’t specify how long the border controls would remain or give details of how incoming migrants would be handled. He said there could be disruption to rail travel.

Germany’s national rail way, Deutsche Bahn, said it had halted service between Austria and Germany for 12 hours on authorities’ orders.

De Maiziere said Germany was reintroducing checks at its borders with an “emphasis” on the Austrian border. It was unclear if checks would be stepped up at other borders.

Also on Sunday, at least 34 people seeking a better life in Europe drowned as they attempted a crossing from Turkey to Greece.

Greece’s coast guard said the dead, including four infants and 11 older children, drowned after their wooden boat carrying more than 130 people capsized near Farmakonissi.