At least 10 people, including six members of a single family, lost their lives in a fire that completely destroyed a seaside resort in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district on Saturday. Authorities stated that the establishment operated without a valid fire-safety licence and had received an official warning following a safety inspection conducted in June.
The blaze erupted at the Tuptup Resto and Resort located in Ukhiya at approximately 7.25 am local time, quickly overwhelming the three-storey building which was constructed primarily from wood and bamboo materials.
Nine individuals suffering from injuries were transported to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital. Among them, five patients remained hospitalized with burn injuries affecting roughly 5 percent of their bodies, while the other four individuals received treatment and were subsequently discharged.
Ashiqul Islam, who was vacationing at the facility alongside his relatives, managed to escape by leaping from the second floor. However, his wife, Israt Jahan Maliha, and five other family members perished in the flames. His brother identified the deceased relatives as 30-year-old Maliha, 23-year-old Milita Mehezabien Alvi, 27-year-old Laila Jahan Nabila, 27-year-old Nafista Meem, 33-year-old Fariha Kabir, and five-year-old Faizan Ahmed. The remaining four victims have not yet been formally identified.
The Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters verified the retrieval of all 10 bodies from the site. Sultanul Afreen Junaid, a director within the fire service, noted that the resort failed to meet regulatory safety standards and ignored prior warnings.
Reports indicated that roughly 30 people were present inside the resort when the disaster struck. While a small number of guests managed to flee to safety, authorities launched an investigation to determine the exact origin of the blaze. Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner A Mannan stated that although kitchen origins were suspected by some, the definitive cause would only be determined upon the conclusion of the formal inquiry.