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Greece: Deadly fire triggers protests at Moria refugee camp

Migrants at Moria camp struggle with the effects of tear gas in their camp

At least one person has died after a fire broke out at an overcrowded refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, local officials say.

They say the charred body of a woman was found at Moria camp. But unconfirmed reports say there was another victim, a child.

Police fired teargas against protesting migrants who said firefighters were too slow to respond to the blaze.

The camp houses about 12,000 people in tents and shipping containers.

But it only has an official capacity of 3,000 - leading to severe overcrowding.

Reuters People stand near a burning container at the Moria refugee camp, Lesbos, Greece. Photo: 29 September 2019Reuters
The fire started at one of the shipping containers housing refugees
AFP/Getty Images A refugee holds a boy and protects himself from tear gas fired by police at the Moria camp. Photo: 29 September 2019AFP/Getty Images
Migrants - both adults and children - tried to avoid tear gas fired by Greek police

In 2018, the UN refugee agency urged Greece to move asylum seekers from Lesbos after the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme exposed appalling conditions there.

Lesbos has been hit hard by the migrant crisis, with the local authorities deadlocked over what to do with new arrivals.

EPA Refugees attack a housing facility at the Moria camp. Photo: 29 September 2019EPA
Angry men earlier attacked housing facilities at the camp

Greece has also been dealing with a resurgence in recent weeks of refugee and migrant flows from neighbouring Turkey.

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Nearly one million refugees, including many fleeing war in Syria, crossed from neighbouring Turkey to the Greek islands in 2015.

Asylum seekers at Moria camp on Lesbos have complained of deadly violence