1st LD Writethru: Fire breaks out at refugee hot spot on Lesvos island, no injuries

Greek firefighters on Monday evening extinguished a fire which broke out at the refugee hot spot of Moria on Lesvos island, local authorities said. No injuries have been reported, according to police sources.

The blaze,which led to the evacuation of dozens of refugees and migrants to nearby accommodation centers as a precautionary measure, started when groups of protesting refugees set mattresses on fire.

It was the culmination of the mounting tensions lately inside and outside the hotspots. Earlier on Monday, about 300 refugees and migrants from Moria held a demonstration triggered by rumors that mass returns to Turkey were scheduled later this week.

In recent weeks, camp residents have repeatedly protested against living conditions in the overcrowded center as well as delays in the assessment of their asylum bids.

Moria camp was established to accommodate about 1,000 people and is currently hosting 3,000 refugees and migrants.

Both the refugees and locals are requesting an imminent solution by relocating people to the mainland or other European countries, as the situation is difficult and scuffles between refugees of different nationalities or incidents with police and locals are on the rise.

Earlier on Monday, villagers of Moria held a rally demanding Lesvos' decongestion. The events on Lesvos have mirrored similar tension on the islands of Chios and Leros in recent days.

The three islands host about 11,000 refugees and migrants of more than 60,000 people who have been stranded in Greece since this spring, after the closure of the Balkan route to central Europe and the implementation of the EU-Turkey deal to stem the refugee infux via the Aegean Sea. Endit