Blaze destroys refugee camp in Lebanon

Syrian refugees salvage belongings from the wreckage of their shelters at a camp in Lebanon that was set on fire overnight.

WORLD

More than 300 Syrian refugees were forced to flee an informal camp in northern Lebanon as a blaze raged through and burnt tents to the ground.

By Nathan Morley

Clashes erupted between Syrian refugees and Lebanese groups in the Minieh area of Tripoli, which then spread to the refugee camp. Tents caught fire during the clashes, with flames spreading quickly.

The large blaze was eventually extinguished whilst the army and police were deployed to restore calm.

Press reports suggest three people were injured.

鈥淭he fire has spread to all the tented shelters鈥� 鈥� made of plastic sheeting and wood 鈥� UNHCR spokesman Khaled Kabbara told reporters. "Some families have fled the area out of fear because there were also sounds of explosions caused by household gas canisters blowing up," Kabbara added.

Around 1.5 million Syrians have taken refuge in Lebanon since the start of the civil war in 2011.

Listen to Nathan Morley's report