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Immigrant crisis in Europe
image copyrightReuters
The fire has destroyed Greece’s largest immigrant camp, the overcrowded Moria facility on the island of Lesbos.
Some 25 firefighters with 10 engines battled the flames while the migrants were evacuated. Some suffered injuries as a result of exposure to the smoke.
So far, the cause of the fire is unclear. Strong winds have fueled two wildfires in other parts of the island.
Moria is home to nearly 13,000 people, more than four times the number it can officially house.
Lesbos’ deputy governor, Aris Hatzikomninos, reportedly told local radio that the camp had been “completely destroyed”.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will hold an emergency meeting on the fire at 09:30 local time (06:30 GMT).
What happened in Moria?
A local resident told the BBC that almost the entire camp had caught fire.
“Now at first light, I can see that there are some tents that do it, they are fine, but the rest of the camp, as I can see from this distance, is burned,” Thanasis Voulgarakis said.
The camp was quarantined last week after a migrant tested positive for the coronavirus. There are now 35 confirmed cases.
The Greek news agency ANA said the fires had broken out after some of the 35 refused to isolate themselves with their families, but this is not confirmed.
A government spokesperson told state television channel ERT that reports of arson were being investigated and a state of emergency would be declared across the island.
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Police have prevented migrants fleeing the fire from heading to the port city of Mytilene.
“It’s a very difficult situation because some of those outside will include people who are positive. [for coronavirus]”the mayor of the city told local radio.
Refugee support group Stand by Me Lesvos said it had heard reports of some locals attacking and preventing migrants from passing through a nearby village.
“The disaster in Moria is total,” Greek Migration Ministry secretary Manos Logothetis told ANA news agency, announcing that he was heading to the site.
