A large fire swept through migrant shelters in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the north African coast, forcing hundreds of people to flee after dozens of accommodation units were destroyed, Al Jazeera reported.
The blaze affected temporary shelters where migrants and asylum-seekers were staying. Witnesses described scenes of people escaping the flames as emergency services worked at the scene, according to the report.
Ceuta, which lies on the Strait of Gibraltar across from mainland Spain, has long been a focal point for migration into Europe. The city hosts reception centres and makeshift shelters for those who arrive by sea or cross the land border, and accommodation there has often been stretched by sustained arrivals.
Officials had not immediately released detailed information about the origin of the fire or whether there were any injuries or fatalities, the report said. The destruction of dozens of shelters will add to the immediate needs for housing and assistance among the displaced population.
The episode is likely to raise concerns among humanitarian groups and local authorities about contingency arrangements for displaced migrants and the capacity of reception facilities in border areas. Local and national agencies will need to assess damage and respond to the urgent needs of those affected, according to observers.
Further information was expected as authorities and aid organisations on the ground evaluate the situation and arrange temporary shelter and support for those who fled the blaze.