How many migrants truly died in the Moria camp blaze?

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Fatalities in the Moria Camp Blaze Remain Unclear Amidst Conflicting Reports

Reports on the exact number of migrant fatalities during the fire at the Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos remain inconsistent. While official police sources indicated that a woman and a child died in the blaze, an Afghan migrant eyewitness claimed three people perished. An AFP correspondent on the scene observed two bodies. The fire, which broke out in two separate incidents with a twenty-minute gap, was eventually extinguished by an airplane, but subsequent riots erupted among residents angered by the response time.
Conflicting Death Tolls Emerge from the Incident

Official statements from police sources, as reported by Athens News Agency, confirmed the deaths of a woman and a child. The woman's body was transported to the island's general hospital, while the child's body was handed over to authorities by migrants. However, an Afghan migrant who witnessed the event stated that three individuals lost their lives. This individual described finding two children who were "completely charred" and a woman who was already dead, noting that these children were subsequently given to the fire brigade.
Overcrowding and Conditions at Moria Camp

The Moria camp, situated on Lesbos, is severely overcrowded, exacerbating the impact of the fire and subsequent unrest. The camp, designed to accommodate approximately 3,000 people, was hosting around 13,000 individuals at the time of the incident. This situation has led to a sprawling tent city, with UN refugee agency tents extending into the surrounding olive fields, housing roughly 8,000 people, while others are accommodated in shipping containers.
Riots Erupt Following the Fires

Following the outbreak of two fires, first outside and then inside the Moria camp, riots ensued. Police were compelled to deploy tear gas to manage a crowd that had gathered, reportedly angered by the perceived delay in extinguishing the flames. In response to the escalating situation, additional police officers were dispatched from Athens via C-130 army airplanes to help contain the unrest. Local police sources indicated that a sense of calm had been restored by 2300 GMT. The Deputy Minister of Citizen Protection, Lefteris Economou, along with the Chief of Police and the Secretary General for Migration Policy, were scheduled to visit the site.

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How many migrants truly died in the Moria camp blaze?

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