Extensive damage at Greek migrant camp after fire, protests

ATHENS-Agence France-Presse

A view of a makeshift camp for refugees and migrants next to the Moria camp, on the island of Lesbos, Greece, on March 11, 2020. (REUTERS File Photo)

One of Greece's largest migrant camps has been extensively damaged in a fire, hours after the death of an Iraqi woman living there sparked unrest, officials said on April 19.    

The fire late on April 18 at Vial camp on Chios island destroyed the facilities of the European asylum service, a camp canteen, tents and many housing containers, Migration Ministry Secretary Manos Logothetis told AFP.    

"A large part of the camp's administrative services was destroyed," said Logothetis, adding that no injuries were reported.    

A local police source said three persons had been detained in relation to the unrest, which erupted after a 47-year-old asylum seeker from Iraq died in the camp on April 18.    

"We managed to restore order at around 1 a.m... There were many people who took part in the incidents," the officer said.    

The Iraqi woman had been taken with a fever to a local hospital earlier this week. At the time, a test for coronavirus had returned negative, state news agency ANA reported on April 18.    

Migrant camps in Greece have been under quarantine in recent weeks, with authorities trying to keep residents apart from locals.    

The virus has so far killed 110 people in Greece. Another 67 are in intensive care.  

There have been coronavirus cases in two camps on the mainland.    

As with all of Greece's island camps, Vial is massively overcrowded.

There are more than 5,000 people living in space intended for around 1,000.