France migrants: Huge fire guts Grande-Synthe Dunkirk camp


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A camp housing 1,500 migrants in northern France has been destroyed in a fire that officials said began during a fight between Afghans and Kurds.

At least 10 people were injured when the fire tore through closely-packed huts at the Grande-Synthe camp, near the port of Dunkirk.

Last month officials said the camp would be dismantled because of unrest.

The French north coast has been a magnet for migrants trying to reach Britain.

"There is nothing left but a heap of ashes," said Michel Lalande, prefect of France's Nord region.

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"It will be impossible to put the huts back where they were before," he added.

The population of the Grande-Synthe camp has grown since last October's destruction of the "Jungle" camp near Calais, about 40 km (25 miles) away.




There have been several violent incidents at the Grande-Synthe camp. Six people were left injured with knife wounds after the fight that started the blaze.

Police intervened last month after five men were injured in a fight, and another man was stabbed in November, AFP reported.


France migrants: Huge fire guts Grande-Synthe Dunkirk camp - BBC News