Three people have lost their lives after a huge fire engulfed part of a camp for Syrian refugees in Bekaa Valley near the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

The fierce fire broke out in the Raed refugee camp in the vicinity of the town of Qabb Ilyas on Sunday, igniting leaping flames and sending a thick black plume of smoke above the camp.

At least three people, including two children, were killed in the raging fire, which according to initial estimates, burned down half of the total 200 tents in the camp.

“We’ve started the assessment as to how many tents have been damaged. As soon as the assessment is done we will provide the families with all the help they need,” said Dana Sleiman, a spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The blaze, however, was extinguished after firefighters rushed to the scene and began putting out the flames, which had devoured almost everything on their way.

It is not yet known what exactly caused the fire, but Sleiman said “apparently it started with a cooking stove.” “We are waiting to confirm that.”

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