The blaze on March 24 did, however, potentially endanger the lives of those housed at the pre-removal center in Macomer as well as the security staff working there.

The flames, which investigators believe were started deliberately, caused significant damages to mattresses and other objects found in the rooms affected by the fire. It also blackened the internal walls of several rooms.

Despite resulting in significant damage, the fire did not lead to any lasting structural problems in the building, according to local sources.

Focus on arson

Nearly 120 medical personnel had to attend to the migrants at the center to ensure that no one required treatment. Part of structure had to be evacuated during the fire, forcing affected migrants to be moved to the other sections of the center.

Investigators suspect that someone staying at the facility started the fire.

"We hope that those who are responsible for this action will be promptly identified and reported to judicial authorities so that the necessary measures are adopted to guarantee the centre's security," said Matteo Baldi, a member of police union SIULP.

Irene Testa, Sardinia's regional ombudsman for the rights of people in detention, said that the "explosive situation" at the CPR was "certainly not caused by its management" but rather, she said, by the "Cutro decree," among other things

The Cutro decree, passed by the current Italian government, allows migrants to be held in pre-removal detention CPR centers for up to 18 months.

"Those who must remain under detention for 18 months without being able to carry out any type of activity within the center and without having committed any crime become discouraged and desperate," she told the ANSA news agency.