They are angry about a decision by the local authority to put the camp in the southern town of Harmanli under quarantine after reports of a possible outbreak of skin disease.
Bulgarian riot police deployed water cannon near hundreds of migrants who broke through a barrier in the country’s largest refugee camp.
The migrants threw stones and other objects at the security forces before staging a protest rally.
They are angry about a decision by the local authority to put the camp in the southern town of Harmanli under quarantine after reports of a possible outbreak of skin disease.
BULGARIA – Migrants Unable to Leave Camp Due to Spread of Infectious Illness https://t.co/bDzmjVi4KQ pic.twitter.com/JLHz29lV4g
— Voice of Europe (@V_of_Europe) November 23, 2016
The damage
Several buildings were damaged in the clashes.
Firefighters were deployed to the scene, along with additional police officers.
Under control
Bulgaria’s interior ministry said the situation has been brought under control and there is no information about anyone injured during the clashes.
The Harmanli centre, located near the Turkish border, was placed under quarantine earlier this week.
There were concerns some people in the camp had skin diseases.
Around 3,000 people, mainly from Afghanistan, are housed at the facility.
Protests by residents
Hundreds of local residents have staged several protests in the past months, calling for an immediate closure of refugee centres in Bulgaria.
They want the inhabitants to be returned to Turkey or their countries of origin.