IDOMENI, Greece (AP) — A regional governor is asking the Greek government to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe.

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, governor of the Greek region of Central Macedonia, said 13,000-14,000 people are trapped in Idomeni and described the situation as a "huge humanitarian crisis."

The neighboring Republic of Macedonia has only allowed tiny trickles of Syrian and Iraqi refugees to cross the border in recent days, citing similar restrictions by countries further north on the migration route.

Tzitzikostas on Saturday called for the European Union to "implement severe action against the countries that are closing borders," whether they are EU members or candidate members.