Eleven migrants drown in Turkey; 24 rescued from van welded shut in Austria

MUNICH, Germany, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Eleven migrants drowned in Turkey and 24 others were rescued alive from a van that was welded shut in Austria as Europe's migrant crises becomes more perilous for travelers.

Turkish officials announced Wednesday at least 11 people thought to be Syrian migrants drowned when two boats sank after leaving southwest Turkey for the Greek island of Kos. Five children and one woman were among the dead.

In Austria, 24 migrants, mostly Afghans aged from 16 to 20, were found in the back of a van with the door welded shut. They were discovered in a "life-threatening situation," according to Austria's interior ministry. A 30-year-old Romanian driver was caught by a police dog after fleeing.

"The scene there was really awful. The people were sitting on top of each other, standing on top of each other and had no chance of opening the door themselves from inside," Vienna police spokesman Thomas Keiblinger said, according to NBC News. "The doors were welded shut, the windows had bars over them. These people were not able to free themselves."

The idea of a better life propels many in impoverished or unsafe countries to flee toward Europe.

In Spain, a migrant was discovered inside the hood of a car, crammed between the engine and radiator. Police in Spain also found a second migrant, both believed to be from Guinea, wedged inside the backseat of the car. They both had severe dehydration and a lack of oxygen, and were receiving treatment.

The two Moroccan nationals driving the vehicle were arrested.

In Hungary, hundreds of migrants were protesting for a second day in Budapest over the government's decision to stop migrants from traveling to Germany and other European Union countries by train.

There were about 2,000 people camped around the Keleti train station as they have been prevented from boarding trains since Tuesday. Most migrants are attempting to reach Vienna or Munich, Germany.

EU interior ministers and justice ministers are scheduled to meet Sept. 14 in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss the migrant crisis.