Thousands of people were forced to flee to safety on Monday after a fire, set on purpose according to police, tore through a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.
No casualties were reported but tents at the Moria camp were “almost entirely destroyed” and containers that provide additional accommodation and health and registration services were damaged, a police source in Athens told AFP.
Greek news agency ANA said the arson began because of fighting between different nationalities in the camp, while Athens-based newspaper Kathimerini said the fires were lit after rumours circulated that refugee deportations to Turkey were being planned.
“Between 3,000 and 4,000 migrants fled the camp of Moria,” to the surrounding fields, with strong winds fanning the flames also hampering firefighters, the police source said.
Police were sent out after the migrants and were in the process of returning them to the camp, the officer added.
The officer said there was “no doubt” that the fire had been set on purpose by those inside.
Some 150 minors housed at the camp were evacuated to a children’s village on the island, the officer said.
Another two fires broke out in the olive groves near Moria but were brought under control before the third blaze erupted at the camp.