KILKIS, Grecee – Local residents are reacting to the reopening of a migrant accommodation facility at a hotel in the area of Kilkis, northern Greece.

A large number of locals gathered outside the hotel "Thea Dimitra" located near the Mouries railway station on Monday evening and blocked the entrance to approximately 280 migrants (mostly from Afghanistan) that arrived in coaches.

The specific facility had closed in early March and the locals were informed about its reopening, as well as migration ministry's pledge that it will only operate until the end of September, on Sunday.

The protestors later left and the migrants entered the hotel.

The municipal council of Kilkis issued a resolution protesting against the placing of the migrants in the area, in what it called a "unexpected government action".

The facility has now been placed in quarantine for 14 days, in line with the protocol for precautionary protection measures against the spread of coronavirus.