This story was updated at 12 p.m. ET.
French police used tear gas and water cannons to clear migrants from a section of a Calais refugee camp known as the "Jungle" early Monday morning.
The police had initially held back, tagging along as a team of workmen in high-visibility clothing moved through the southern part of the sprawling encampment, dismantling tents and removing structures. But as migrants objected to their removal, the police began spraying them with high-powered streams of water and clouds of tear gas.
French police water cannoning and tear gassing migrants in #CalaisJungle pic.twitter.com/5qDzqisx3A— Sofia Bettiza (@SofiaBettiza) February 29, 2016
Some of the migrants responded by throwing rocks.
Rocks being hurled at riot police. Tear gas fired back. Just got tear gassed for first time #CalaisJungle pic.twitter.com/lYTbADiRsE— anna holligan (@annaholligan) February 29, 2016
Someone, it isn't clear who, set fire to some of the structures, which made the scene resemble the war zones back home that many of the migrants had attempted to leave behind.
Things in Calais are escalating quickly, police about to tear gas #CalaisJungle pic.twitter.com/SDmoB9WSbg— Sofia Bettiza (@SofiaBettiza) February 29, 2016
Volunteers and members of the media were kept away from the clearance, according to several accounts, which is the latest effort from the French government to clear migrants from the camp. It follows a less violent action that took place last month.
No volunteers access. People removed from houses. Police blocking entry. This is what they call a "soft demolition". pic.twitter.com/PmajyrLQ5j— Good Chance Calais (@GoodChanceCal) February 29, 2016
Many residents there are being encouraged to move into large, white containers that have been installed on the site.
The makeshift Calais camp is home to several thousand people from Afghanistan, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Eritrea and other countries, many of whom have fled war or economic instability.
Some of the accommodation that was dismantled had provided homes for people for several months, according to Good Chance Calais, a group that has been organising theatre shows on site.
Police march in. Contractors remove houses that have had to be homes for many months. #eviction #softdemolition pic.twitter.com/SpF9zC29IR— Good Chance Calais (@GoodChanceCal) February 29, 2016
Some 1,000 people were affected the eviction order, the BBC reports, but aid agencies estimated that figure to be much higher. Officials insisted that communal structures -- such as a church, a mosque and schools that operate in the camp -- would be left untouched.
Scene on the edge of the 'Jungle' this morning #Calais pic.twitter.com/CFstZdHXXO— anna holligan (@annaholligan) February 29, 2016
Demolition teams destroying any empty tents and wooden shacks, cops trying to stop journalists getting in— alex thomson (@alextomo) February 29, 2016
The evictions were made possible by a French court that authorised the demolition of hundreds of tents and shelters in the camp last week. Authorities had insisted they would evacuate people gradually and without violence.
That, obviously, didn't happen.
Riot police warning migrants, 'If you don't move we'll use force' #CalaisJungle pic.twitter.com/j0DMhqmqDi— anna holligan (@annaholligan) February 29, 2016
The work to clear the camp “went on for an hour or so in a small section of the camp with a mostly Iranian population," a spokeswoman for British group Help Refugees told the Guardian on Monday.
“People were being told they had to leave, otherwise they would be arrested. A lot of people seemed quite confused. They were leaving with their sleeping bags, not sure where they would be going.”