At least five people have died in a fire at Tup-Tup Resort in the Patuartek area near Inani Beach in Ukhia upazila of Cox’s Bazar.
The fire broke out around 7am on Saturday at the resort along Marine Drive. Fire Service officials and police have warned that the death toll could rise.
Senior Fire Service official Dolan Acharya confirmed that five bodies had been recovered. The victims are believed to be tourists, but their identities could not be immediately established.
Ukhia police station Officer-in-Charge Atiqur Rahman said the death toll might increase as rescue workers continued searching the site. Police are working to establish the victims’ identities and determine the total number of casualties.
According to the fire service, three firefighting units reached the scene around 8am and began operations. The blaze was brought under control around 10am, after which rescuers began searching the resort.
The resort, built primarily of wood, sustained extensive damage. Firefighters are continuing to search the building for anyone who may remain trapped inside.
Local residents said the resort’s staff and management left the scene after the fire broke out.
The cause of the fire, the extent of the damage and whether the resort had adequate fire safety measures remain unclear.
