“The whole camp is on fire.
Everything is burning.
People are fleeing.
Their home in Moria is gone, ”writes the organization Stand by Me Lesvos.
According to the Greek news agency ANA, the fire started after a riot of asylum seekers who were isolated after testing positive for the coronavirus, or had close contact with someone infected.
But the news agency AP reports that the isolated are outside the camp in a place that has not been affected by the fire.
35 of the residents must have tested positive for the virus.
So far there are no reports of injuries in the fire.
"Difficult situation"
About 12,000 people live in and around the camp.
According to an interview with Stratos Kytelis, the mayor of the island's largest city Mytilene, conducted with the radio station Skai, the police are guarding "more than 12,000 migrants on a motorway".
- It is a difficult situation because some of those who are out are positive for the coronavirus, he says.
No information has yet been received as to whether the fire was started, but according to firefighters and police with whom the AP spoke, the firefighters have "met resistance" from some of the residents at the camp.
The text is updated.