Fire rips through overcrowded refugee camp in Greece

Around 600 asylum seekers affected by the blaze on the island of Samos

The fire destroyed at least a dozen tents in the overcrowded camp. AP

A fire burnt through an overcrowded Greek refugee camp on Wednesday morning, destroying a dozen tents and affecting some 600 people.

Strong winds hindered the 24 firefighters and eight fire trucks as they fought to put out the blaze on the island of Samos in eastern Greece.

There were no reports of any injuries at the camp, which was only supposed to hold 650 asylum seekers but was housing just under 6,000 in July 2020 according to a local NGO. It is unclear how the fire started.

In September, fires destroyed Greece's largest refugee camp, Moria, on the nearby island of Lesbos, leaving 13,000 people displaced. At the time, Greek authorities said the fires were started by a small group of migrants who were angry at lockdown orders imposed after a Covid-19 outbreak in Moria.

Situated only 2km from the coast of Turkey, Samos has become a favoured destination for asylum seekers making the long journey into central Europe although their presence has led to tensions with locals.

Local NGO Samos Volunteers said migrants often find themselves forced to stay on the island for years, as they become encumbered by a slow asylum process.

Samos Volunteers say living conditions are “atrocious,” with little protection against the elements and inadequate healthcare provision.

A migrant carries a mattress as others watch a fire inside a refugee camp on the eastern Aegean island of Samos, Greece, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020. Dozens of accommodations were destroyed by the fire that broke out on Wednesday morning, two weeks after an earthquake hit the island. (AP Photo/Michael Svarnias)