There was reported to be chaos on
Monday due to overcrowding at the preliminary reception centre
for migrants and refugees arriving in the Sicilian port of Porto
Empedocle following transfer from Lampedusa.
Over 1,000 people were reported to be present at the temporary
facility pending onward transfer to reception centres in other
parts of Italy amid delays due to lack of availability of
transportation services.
Over 100 people were said to have left the structure
independently and are now being sought by police.
Transfers by passenger ferry from Lampedusa to Porto Empedocle
were suspended temporarily due to the overcrowding, which has
worsened since Friday's accident involving a coach carrying
migrants and refugees from the Sicilian port city to reception
facilities in northern Italy in which the two young drivers
died.
Since then, coach companies are reportedly less willing to make
the transfers.
On Monday 300 migrants and refugees were due to leave the
facility for destinations further north.
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