Greece: Massive fire breaks out in overcrowded refugee camp, emergency declared

At least 12,000 migrants were rendered homeless after Greece’s largest refugee camp caught fire on September 9. broke out overnight at overcrowded Moria refugee camp, located on island of Lesbos, Greece which houses refugees from Afghanistan, Syria and much or war-prone nations. Terming it as difficult night, government has declared a state of emergency in region.

fires broke out overnight, police and fire officials on island told Associated Press, ding cause of blazes, as well as full extent of dam, remained unclear. Flames gutted majority of camp and surrounding hillside of olive groves.  Alongside, physical dams, fire also broke out protests involving migrants, firefighters and refugees.

camp was placed under lockdown after a man from Somali tested positive for coronavirus. In dition, a major testing drive was ordered in camp, and 35 people who tested positive were quarantined in a separate facility that was t affected by fire, island officials told AP. As of w, authorities have denied movement to and fro camp to prevent spre of coronavirus.

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Busiest crossing point

In 2015, Lesbos became continent's busiest crossing point for illegal migration witnessing a massive westward movement of refugees fleeing war in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and travelling through Turkey. After that wave of migration, Greek authorities set up camps on Lesbos and four or islands, helped with European Union funding, and more recently also set up a network of camps on mainland.

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All Im credits: Associated Press