Authorities in Italy said around 300 migrant workers have been bussed out of a southern town rocked by two days of rioting that left at least 37 injured including migrants beaten in an attack.

The prefect of Reggio Calabria told Sky TG24 TV that several hundred other Africans for now were choosing to stay in the town of Rosarno, where they live in an abandoned, decrepit former cheese factory. The others were bussed to a shelter for illegal migrants. Clashes involving migrants, residents and police began Thursday night after two Africans were wounded with pellet gunfire in an attack blamed on racism.