Massive fire engulfs Moria refugee camp on Lesbos

(Patria) – A fire broke out in the refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos in the early morning hours of Wednesday, forcing thousands of its residents to flee their tents and containers.

There are no reports of injuries in the overcrowded Moria camp so far, and the cause of the fire has not been determined.

According to Greek police, migrants have been moved to safety.

At least 25 firefighters with 10 vehicles, assisted by police, extinguished the fire inside and around the camp.

The Moria camp, which provided shelter to 12,000 migrants, four times its capacity, is often criticized by humanitarian organizations for its poor conditions.

The camp was placed under quarantine last week after it was confirmed that one of its residents tested positive for the coronavirus. Since then, the number of infected people has reached 35. Humanitarian organizations warn that it is impossible to implement protective measures in this camp due to the extremely poor living conditions that prevail there.

The island of Lesbos, located in close proximity to the Turkish coast, has been hit by mass movements of refugees and migrants towards Europe since 2015.

A child lost their life in a fire that engulfed the camp in March.

Fires, aided by strong winds, have also affected other parts of the island this time.