Thousands of migrants have begun pouring into Croatia, setting up a new path toward Western Europe after Hungary used tear gas and water cannons to keep them out of its territory.

Croatian police said on Thursday morning that about 5,650 migrants have come into the country since the first groups started arriving early on Wednesday. Authorities have been using trains and buses to transfer them to refugee centers in the capital of Zagreb and elsewhere.

Authorities said they are forming a special body to deal with the influx. Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic said the country has the situation under control. But he warned that "if huge waves start coming through Serbia, we must consider different moves".