TOVARNIK, Croatia — Faced with thousands of migrants streaming in, Croatia declared Friday it was overwhelmed and would tell those on an arduous trek to reach the safety of Western Europe to keep moving on toward Hungary or Slovenia.

With more than 14,000 migrants arriving in just two days, Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic declared that his nation of 4.2 million could no longer cope and asylum seekers could not stay.

“What else can we do?” Milanovic said at a news conference. “You are welcome in Croatia and you can pass through Croatia. But go on. Not because we don’t like you, but because this is not your final destination.”

The policy is sure increase tensions along Croatia’s borders with Hungary and Slovenia, which are also turning people away as they seek to stem the tide of migrants.

Huge numbers have surged into Croatia after Hungary erected a barbed wire-fence on its border with Serbia and took other tough measures to stop migrants from coming in, including spraying crowds at the border with tear gas and water cannons.

Croatia represents a longer and more difficult route to the wealthier nations of the European Union, but those fleeing violence in their homelands, such as Syrians and Iraqis, had little choice.

Croatia closed all but one of its border crossings with Serbia after chaotic scenes at the border Thursday where dozens of migrants were trampled in the rush to get a seat on a bus or train.

Milanovic appealed Friday to the European Union to step in and help.

“We have a heart but we also have a brain,” he said.

Most migrants don’t want to stay in Croatia. Just one woman with children has requested asylum in Croatia since the influx started, Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic said.