CALAIS, France, Oct. 26 (UPI) — Sections of the so-called “Jungle” migrant camp in France were set ablaze overnight after authorities began to disassemble the troubled area in Calais.
One fire was lit early Wednesday but by 11 a.m., dozens of tents and shacks were ablaze. The fires follow several clashes this week between French police and some migrants who refused to leave amid orders to disassemble the camp.
About 4,000 of an estimated 7,000 migrants have been moved out of the camp and transported throughout France since Monday. French authorities said they expect the camp to be cleared by Wednesday.
It is unclear who started the fire. Fabienne Buccio, a prefect of Pas-de-Calais official, said it is “a tradition among the migrant population to destroy their homes before leaving,” but the Calais police commissioner said he was told by migrants that fires were started by activists.
Additional police officers have been deployed to the camp. Officials are warning the fires may cause gas canisters to explode.
Workers in hard hats and orange jumpsuits used sledgehammers and other tools to pull down the camp. French officials had firefighters prepared in case fires were indeed set in the camp.
“We had anticipated this by pre-positioning firefighters as part of this operation and also passed the message to migrants and community representatives not to set fire to the shelters,” a Calais prefecture spokesperson said, according to CNN. “The cleaning company will today continue the removal of empty shelters to limit the risk of further fires.”
The migrants will be taken to reception centers throughout France where they will be given the opportunity to claim asylum or face deportation. Many migrants are attempting to enter the United Kingdom because they have families there. Earlier this year, the physical size of the camp was decreased by half but the population continued to increase. Reports of violence and worsening conditions also increased.
