Thousands Displaced After More Fires Break Out at Moria Refugee Camp in Lesbos

Fires continued to break out Wednesday night, September 9, at the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, displacing thousands of migrants. Footage shows smoke rising from tents as thousands sit on sidewalks outside the camp.

According to reports, fires broke out in areas of the camp that were not previously burned in a blaze early Wednesday morning.

Local media said the original fire was started by camp residents angered by lockdown measures and isolation orders imposed after 35 people tested positive for COVID-19. The cases were found during broad testing and contact tracing stemming from a Somali man who had been granted asylum and left the island in July but later returned.

The BBC reported that the fires “began with the asylum seekers,” and said some protesting migrants hindered firefighters who tried to tackle the flames.

There were no reports of casualties among the overcrowded camp’s more than 12,000 residents. Credit: MISSION LIFELINE via Storyful