Tension in Iraklion as farmers clash with seamen over ongoing ferry strike
Tempers flared in Iraklion port at 18:00 on Friday after groups of farmers from Ierapetra with truckloads of produce arrived and demanded that the trucks be loaded onto ships to go to market.
The extension of the strike called by the seamen's union federation PNO and the failure to arrange for a "emergency" ship would result in their financial ruin, the farmers said.
Following their arrival, the farmers moved toward the ship "Blue Horizon," which was docked in the port, and set off flares at the seamen on board. The sailors returned fire by throwing water, which inflamed tempers even further.
The ship finally set sail without loading the trucks, while a fire that started at the ANEK lines ticket office was put out. More farmers are continuing to arrive at the port from various areas of Crete.