Budapest, Oct 17 (IANS): Hungarian authorities on Saturday closed its border with Croatia in an effort to stem the flow of migrants through the country en route to western Europe.

Croatia said it would begin directing migrants to Slovenia instead, BBC reported.

It announcement of the closure was made on Friday after European Union leaders failed to agree a plan backed by Hungary to send a force to prevent migrants reaching Greece.

A group of several hundred migrants who arrived near the village of Zakany minutes before the closure were the last to be allowed through.

"Closure!" a soldier shouted after the last travellers had passed across.

"We know that this is not the best, but only the second-best solution," Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said, adding "Migrants could still apply for asylum in Hungary at two border transit zones."

The border posts at Beremend and Letenje are also open for anyone with valid documents.

Hungary has already sealed its border with Serbia.

Nearly 600,000 migrants have reached the EU by sea so far this year, many of them travelling from Turkey.