At least five people have died in a devastating fire at a resort in Inani, Ukhiya, in Cox’s Bazar. The blaze broke out at the Tuptup Resort near Patuartek Beach along the Marine Drive on Saturday morning, 17 October. The fire caused extensive damage to the property, and authorities fear the death toll could rise.
According to fire service officials, the fire broke out at around 7am. As the flames spread through the resort, emergency services were alerted and firefighters rushed to the scene to bring the blaze under control.
Three Fire Service units began their operations at around 8am. After nearly two hours of efforts, the fire was brought under control at around 10am. Rescue operations began afterwards, with emergency personnel searching the damaged building for casualties and anyone who might still be trapped inside.
Dolon Acharya, a senior Fire Service official, confirmed that five bodies had been recovered from the scene. The victims are initially believed to be tourists, although their identities had not been established at the time of reporting.
Atikur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Ukhiya Police Station, said several people were believed to have died in the incident. However, he added that it would take more time to establish the exact number of fatalities.
Although the fire has been brought under control, rescue workers are continuing to search the resort to determine whether anyone remains trapped inside. The final number of casualties may not be known until the search is completed.
There are also reports that members of the resort’s management left the scene following the fire. The circumstances surrounding their departure have not been clarified, and no further details were immediately available.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Investigators will need to determine whether it was triggered by an electrical fault, a cooking-related incident or another factor. The extent of the damage and the condition of the resort’s fire safety arrangements have also yet to be established.
Inani and nearby coastal areas are popular destinations for tourists visiting Cox’s Bazar, particularly during holidays and weekends. Fires at tourist accommodation facilities can pose serious risks when large numbers of guests are staying on the premises, especially if evacuation routes, fire alarms or firefighting equipment are inadequate.
However, no detailed information was immediately available about the resort’s fire safety measures. Authorities are expected to establish the cause of the blaze, assess the damage and confirm the identities of the deceased as rescue operations and subsequent investigations progress.
The immediate priority remains the search for any additional victims and the collection of reliable information about the incident. Further details are awaited from the relevant authorities.
