“It is a fact that we are facing an increased pressure from the influx of migrants attempting to cross the border,” said Ivo Kotevski, a spokesman for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. “But so far we have the situation under control, and there haven’t been any major incidents or injuries.”

Before the state of emergency was declared, large numbers of migrants who had made their way to Greece, often in perilous sea crossings by small boat, would head north to Macedonia, often crossing the relatively porous border by train or by walking along the tracks. While Macedonia is not a member of the European Union, travel costs there are relatively low, and other countries in the region have tightened their border controls recently, making it a preferred route north for migrants.

But the Macedonian police moved to stiffen the border on Friday, sharply limiting the number who could cross and fencing off the railroad right of way through Gevgelija with barbed wire and armored vehicles. The government also used its temporary authority under the state of emergency to deploy army troops along the border.

Critics of the government said that the moves would only drive the migrants to try to sneak across in more dangerous ways, or fall victim to traffickers.