A fire has engulfed one of the massive tent halls in the German capital housing refugees. Police are now investigating whether foul play was involved. No injuries were reported.
Police are investigating a fire that broke out in refugee accommodation in the German capital of Berlin, a police spokeswoman said on Wednesday (March 13). The cause of the fire is unclear and authorities are probing whether arson took place, the spokeswoman added.
The blaze took place at the site of the former Tegel airport, engulfing one of the tent halls on Tuesday at midday and burning an area of 1,000 square meters. Another four tent halls around the scene of the fire also had to be evacuated.
Several hundred people, including children and animals present on site, were brought to safety in time and no one was injured, according to local authorities. Personal belongings had to be left behind.
Nearby firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to other tents, preventing what could have been catastrophic.
Several people underwent medical examinations as a precaution.
Germany's housing dilemma
At least 301 Ukrainian refugees lived in the tent hall that burned down, German news agency network RND reported, citing a local authority spokesperson.
The migrant reception center at Tegel is one of the largest in Germany and serves as the primary arrival center for refugees and asylum seekers in Berlin. The accommodation, designed for up to 7,000 people, is currently occupied by around 4,500 people, according to Berlin's State Office for Refugee Affairs (LAF).
The temporary refugee shelter at the former airport expanded in 2022 to accommodate around 3,600 Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. Though the accommodation is intended to be temporary, some people have found themselves living in the tent halls for months.
The city of Berlin, along with many other small and large municipalities across Germany, has been struggling to house the number of refugees and asylum seekers who continue to arrive in Germany from Ukraine and other countries.
Last summer, Berlin relocated scores of migrants temporarily residing in hostels and hotels to the center in Tegel to make room for the arrival of tourists.
With dpa