No one was injured when five tents at the Ħal Far open centre, known as Tent City, were gutted by fire after a gas cylinder exploded late yesterday afternoon.

Over 100 immigrants had to be relocated to other tents or given alternative accommodation in the form of sleeping bags. Five new tents will be set up this morning.

The fire, which was extinguished within an hour, left only the blackened metal frames of the bunk-beds intact.

"All our belongings were destroyed," said one immigrant, worried as to where he would be sleeping.

A spokesman for the open centre's administration said one man was taken to hospital with chest pains but his condition was not serious.

Police officers were on the scene questioning the immigrants over what happened but they said they did not suspect any foul play.

The incident took place at about 5.15 p.m. and the Civil Protection Department and the police arrived on the scene promptly.

Apart from the ones that were destroyed, other tents were damaged when burning debris flew onto them as a result of the explosions.

Some of the immigrants were visibly tense about the situation but others were seen joking with the open centre's administration and eagerly explaining the details of what they saw to the police.