Austria has tightened its border controls and travelers driving through the country found themselves stuck in a traffic for long periods of time. Some of them reported more than 10 hours waiting time.
The controls imposed by the Austrian Border Police have resulted in vehicles being checked and registered before entering the country. The rules have applied to car drivers wanting to traverse Austria and continue onward to other countries.
This weekend many people on holiday have begun their return to their country of origin. German, French, Dutch and Belgian people, among others, have had to sit in their cars and wait.
On the early hours of the morning of August 23rd, the Austrian traffic information service reported more than 10 kilometers of traffic jams on the Slovenian side of the Karawanks tunnel.
The situation improves from time to time, and at different times during the day. Austrian authorities are allowing more cars drive through without thorough controls but delays are still happening.
Belgian news outlet, VRT, reported that some fights have been observed. At the shop next to a gas station, much of the products had been sold. “There were hundreds of people yet nothing left to buy,” a man said. “People were fighting over the last pizza slices.”
