A fire broke out in and around Greece's overcrowded Moria migrants camp on Lesbos island early on Wednesday, burning tents and forcing people to evacuate.

The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear, with fires burning both inside and outside the facility, a fire brigade official said.

Moria hosts more than 12,000 people - more than four times its stated capacity - and the camp has spilled out in the area surrounding the facility, where makeshift shelters and tents were seen engulfed in flames.

Aid groups have frequently criticized the poor living conditions in the camp.

The facility was placed under quarantine last week after authorities confirmed that an asylum-seeker had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Confirmed infections have risen to 35 since then.

Lesbos, which lies just off the Turkish coast, was on the front line of a massive movement of refugees and migrants to Europe in 2015-2016.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, since March 1, all migrants reaching the island have been quarantined away from the camps.

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