Blaze forces migrants to flee overcrowded Greek island camp after violent clashes
Updated 02:54, 16-Oct-2019
By Nilay Syam

Authorities evacuated one of the most overcrowded migrant camps in Greece after a large fire broke out following a fight between residents. There were protests on the Aegean island of Samos from residents as refugees were forced to sleep on the streets. 

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Police and firefighters arrived at the Vathy camp on Samos on Monday night, after flames gutted several tents and containers.

The fire was preceded by clashes between migrants in the center of Samos on Monday afternoon. Three people required medical attention. CGTN Europe spoke to Pasha, an Iranian refugee and camp resident, who said: "We saw a lot of shooting from the police to control the chaos but they couldn't. The Afghans and Arabs started to burn the tents of each other, we saw a big fire and a lot of families that ran away from camp."

The fire gutted several tents and containers at the refugee camp on the Aegean island. (Photo: AP)

The fire gutted several tents and containers at the refugee camp on the Aegean island. (Photo: AP)

The international medical charity, Médecins Sans Frontières issued a statement on Twitter saying: "This nightmare must end."

It added: "Just two weeks after the fire in Moria, another fire just broke out. Children and vulnerable people must be evacuated from the Greek islands to safe accommodation."

The Vathy camp, initially set up to host a few hundred, now accommodates more than 5,000 refugees.

CGTN Europe visited Samos to find out more about the state of refugee children on the island.