Ten tourists killed in fire at Cox’s Bazar resort

Six of the ten people killed in a fire at Tup Tup Resto & Resort on Patowartek Beach in Inani, Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar, have been identified. All nine victims were tourists. The six identified victims include five women and one child.

The fire broke out on Saturday morning at the resort in Patuartek Sea Beach in Inani, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. 
In a text message, the Fire Service said it received a report of the fire at around 7:25am. The resort is approximately 18 kilometres from the fire station. Two firefighting units reached the scene at around 8am and began efforts to extinguish the blaze. The fire was brought under control about 15 minutes later.

The deceased have been identified as Israt Jahan Maliha, 30, and Milita Mehejabin Alvi, 23, from Banasree in Dhaka; Laila Jahan Nabila, 27, and Nafista Mim, 27, from Khilgaon; Fariha Kabir, 33, from Chuadanga; and five-year-old Faizan Ahmed. Subaktagin Mahmud Sohel, resident medical officer (RMO) at Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, confirmed their identities.

The six injured people are Mugda Medical College Hospital physician Shihab Uddin, 31, his wife Nafiza Newaz Khan, 29, Mannan, 34, Meherunnesa, 30, Masud, 30, and Samida, 32. They are receiving treatment at Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital.

Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md A Mannan said nine bodies had been recovered by fire service personnel. Several other people with burn injuries were rescued and admitted to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital. All the victims were tourists, he added.

The deputy commissioner said the fire was initially suspected to have originated from a stove in the resort's kitchen. A five-member investigation committee, headed by the additional district magistrate, has been formed to determine the cause of the fire.

The resort’s manager, Mohammad Sumon, who was subsequently detained by the police, however, claimed an electrical short circuit triggered the fire.

According to Sumon, staff attempted to extinguish the initial flames, but the blaze quickly spiraled out of control after wall-mounted air-conditioning units and cooking gas cylinders exploded, rapidly burning the wooden structure.