A fire that swept through a beach resort in southeastern Bangladesh has killed 10 people, including children as young as five, an official has said. The blaze broke out early this morning at Tuptup Resto and Resort at Inani in Cox's Bazar district.
Fire spreads through three-storey wooden resort
According to Syed Mohammad Morshed Hossain, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence in the district, the fire quickly spread throughout the three-storey wooden resort. Children are among the fatalities, he confirmed. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire.
Six of the 10 victims have already been identified, with their ages ranging from 33 to five. Fire crews were called to the scene after the blaze started at around 6.30am local time, according to Mohammad Atikur Rahman Majumder, the chief of Ukhiya Police Station.
Injured taken to hospital
Police officers also attended, supporting the rescue operation. Nine more people were injured, according to the local fire service, and were all taken to hospital. Sabuktagin Mahmud Sohel, resident medical officer at Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, told the Hindu that five of the casualties had burns covering around 5% of their bodies.
Investigation committee formed
Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md A Mannan told local news outlet Prothom Alo that a five-member investigation committee, headed by the Additional District Magistrate, has been formed to investigate the cause of the fire. Around 30 people are believed to have been at the resort at the time of the incident.
