Hundreds of farmers blockaded the main port of the eastern Aegean Sea island of Lesvos, disrupting ferry services for a second day Wednesday to protest the government’s handling of a deadly livestock disease.
Protesters prevented trucks from disembarking from a ferry that had arrived from Piraeus at noon, but allowed passengers to get off. Departures by boat for Turkey have been cancelled, stranding Turkish tourists on short-term visas.
Farmers are angry at the conservative government’s response to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease on the island, that has led to the culling of affected herds and a ban on livestock and dairy products leaving Lesvos. Among other demands, they are pressing for speedy payment of compensation for culled livestock.
On Tuesday, about 700 people trying to leave for Piraeus were forced to stay on Lesvos, with farmers only allowing national servicemen and people travelling for medical reasons to embark.
Another Piraeus-bound ferry is due to call at the main port of Mytilini on Wednesday afternoon, and it’s unclear whether protesters will disrupt embarkation.