BEIRUT, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Two children were killed and 6 other people injured when a huge fire broke out Sunday in al-Raed random camp for Syrian refugees in Lebanon's east Bekaa town of Qob Elias.
A security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the civil defense and Lebanese Red Cross have sent the victims to nearby hospitals.
He said the fire broke out due to gas leak and the fire was boosted because of many motorcycles filled with gasoline which were parked near the tents.
The source added that the randomly erected camp consists of 150 tents with around 1000 refugees living in it.
It is not the first incident of the kind because of the absence of the safety conditions when the camps were erected.
According to the Lebanese Civil Aviation Meteorology Department, Lebanon is currently exposed to hot air masses stationed above the Arabian Gulf, which is expected to gradually retreat as of Tuesday night.
The department warned of the risk of fires and exposure to direct sunlight, especially during the afternoon period.
According to the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Lebanon hosts around 1.1 million Syrians who fled their war-torn country since the rebellion against the regime of President Bashar Assad in March 2011.
However the Lebanese government estimates their number to be around 1.5 million.
