A fire broke out from the ground in Inani, a tourist area in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, while workers were excavating the site to install a tube well on Tuesday. Smoke and a gas-like smell were also reported, raising suspicions that underground gas may have fuelled the blaze.
Three fire service units were deployed to the site and were working to bring the fire under control.
The fire erupted around 8:30am near a small bridge in Inani.
Saidul Islam, station officer at Ukhiya Fire Service, confirmed the incident, saying firefighters reached the scene after receiving the report. He said the cause of the fire was still being investigated, although the preliminary suspicion was that gas beneath the surface might be responsible.
Meanwhile, electricity supply along a 15km stretch of the 33kV power line, from Monkhali to Patuartek, was temporarily suspended over concerns that the fire could spread to electrical infrastructure, according to Ukhiya Palli Bidyut Samity.
The incident triggered panic among local residents.
Al-Amin, an employee of a five-star hotel near the site, said several hotel staff members lived in a room beside the area where the fire broke out.
“The fire service has arrived. Seeing the fire suddenly was truly terrifying,” he said.