Galery

1

One migrant died of electric shock near the village of Idomeni on the Greek-Macedonian border, the Greek media report. According to the information currently available, the 22-year-old Moroccan touched power supply cables. This is the second consecutive case in the last few days. On Saturday, another migrant had an electric shock and is in serious condition.

According to correspondents who are on the scene, his compatriots have not allowed the first aid team to take his body. Currently they are carrying the body near the Greek-Macedonian border, arguing that it is a traditional ritual of mourning for them.

There has been tension in the region since yesterday. Migrants from those nationalities that are not allowed by the Macedonian authorities to cross the border are attacking with wood and stone both the members of police units and the groups of refugees who can enter Macedonia.

A group of 500 migrants who have been on the border for several days tried to cross the border at a point where there is no fence. To thwart their attempt the Macedonian police used tear gas. By Wednesday evening, they introduced a full ban on border crossing.

Enraged, about 2,500 immigrants sat outside the border crossing station and insisted that everyone be allowed to cross the border, including refugees from Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria to whom the ban does not apply, if not all were permitted to cross the border. Tensions escalated this morning, when refugees had a fight with the protesting migrants, which was followed by stone-throwing from both sides. During the clashes, they even pulled out the wooden columns of the wire fence.

Shortly before noon today, tensions in the region fell and the people started to carry around the body of the deceased migrant. At the same time, Greek policemen handed out leaflets to migrants, notifying them that they have three days to leave the region of Idomeni. Units of the riot police forces are on site to follow the situation, whereas military units and a police helicopter are patrolling on the Macedonian side.

According to sources, there are about 6,000 refugees and migrants in the region of Idomeni and five tents pitched in the improvised camp, which can accommodate 1,000 people. They are now housing refugees whereas economic migrants are spending the nights in sleeping bags or outdoors.

One train of the Greek railways is in the border area as well as a couple of buses, which are ready to transport free those economic migrants who want to travel to Athens or Thessaloniki. Idomeni sources however note the small probability of them getting on the train.