Thousands flee fire at Greece’s biggest migrant camp on island of Lesbos
- The Moria camp was gutted by fire, leaving over 12,000 refugees and asylum seekers homeless
- There are reports the blaze was started in a revolt by asylum seekers placed in isolation after testing positive for coronavirus
Firefighters said the notorious Moria camp had been mostly destroyed but there were no known casualties so far, though a number of people were suffering minor respiratory problems from exposure to smoke.
Government spokesman Stelios Petsas said an emergency would be declared across the entire island and reports of arson were under investigation.
03:06
'We don't know where to go,' fire at Europe’s largest refugee camp leaves thousands homeless
“There are 35 positive cases and they need to be isolated … to prevent an outbreak among the local population,” Petsas told local media.
Hundreds of asylum seekers attempted to flee on foot towards the port town of Mytilene but were blocked by police vehicles, while others had taken shelter in the hills surrounding the camps.
Refugee support group Stand by Me Lesvos said on Twitter it had received reports that Greek locals on the island had blocked fleeing asylum seekers from heading into a nearby village.