(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 18 - 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. (ANSA).