A great disturbance prevailed yesterday morning until noon at the port of Akadia in Rhodes, when more than 400 migrants from various locations on the island entered in front of the catapult of the ship Chios island, thus preventing the departure of the ship scheduled for 11:00 a.m..

The ship was on a scheduled route for Pigadia Karpathos-Kasos-Siteia-Heraklion-Thera and final destination the port of Piraeus.

The migrants protested, demanding their immediate transfer from the island of Rhodes, either to organized accommodation facilities or to the mainland.

The police arrested a 41-year-old foreigner for disobedience and obstructing maritime traffic.

According to an announcement by the Coast Guard, the 41-year-old, as the leader of the group of foreigners who had gathered on the catapult of the passenger ship, prevented the smooth loading of vehicles and the boarding of passengers, resulting in the delay of his departure.

Officials of the relevant Port Authority, with the assistance of the Hellenic Police, carried out order and security measures, with a view to social peace, as a result of which the gathered crowd left and the smooth boarding of passengers continued.

The ship sailed at 15:20 in the afternoon instead of the scheduled time (11:00) with 535 passengers and 84 vehicles.

Forty (40) foreigners also boarded the ship, in order to go to the KYT Reception and Identification Center.

With information from Rodiaki, APE-MPE