Migrants flee burning Greek camp of Moria on Lesbos

The fire apparently started after rumours of mass deportations

Up to 4,000 migrants were evacuated from the Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos after a large fire destroyed tents and prefabricated homes.

No injuries have been reported, and some migrants have now been allowed to return to the camp.
Police are investigating whether the fire was deliberate, but an aid worker said it started after a food dispute.

The fire was fanned by strong winds

There are some 5,600 refugees currently in Lesbos, according to the UN, but the island only has capacity for 3,600.

The fire destroyed 30% of the camp, according to Aris Vlashopoulos, an aid worker with the Swiss charity SAO.


"People are returning to the camp now as I can see. But the biggest number of the refugees are already on the streets, sleeping outside," he added.

According to Greek state news agency ANA, a brawl started on Monday after a rumour that refugees would be deported to Turkey en masse. Many on the island are afraid of being returned to Turkey or their home countries.

Humanitarian worker Fotini Rantsiou said tensions in the camp had been high all day. During the morning a man waiting for news of his asylum application became frustrated with the process and shouted "freedom", provoking alarm among 2,000 people in the camp and a later hunger protest.
"Riots are not unusual in Moria," she said.

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