Six tourists were killed in a fire at the Toptop Resto and Resort in the Inani sea beach area of Cox's Bazar. The victims include five women and a five-year-old child. Several other people sustained critical burn injuries in the incident, which occurred on Saturday morning in the Patuartek area along the Marine Drive.
The identities of the six deceased individuals have been released. They are Israt Jahan Maliha (30) and Milita Mehezabin Alvi (23) from Bonosree in Dhaka, Laila Jahan Nabila (27) and Nafista Mim (27) from Khilgaon, and Fariha Kabir (33) and Fayizan Ahmed (5) from Chuadanga. Initially, it was confirmed that all the deceased were tourists.
Fire Service Media Officer Talha Bin Jasim stated that the fire was completely extinguished around 11 AM on Saturday. Prior to that, six bodies were recovered from the scene.
Ukhia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Atikur Rahman Majumdar stated that the fire broke out at the resort around 6:30 AM. The resort is located approximately 29 kilometers from Kolatoli, the gateway to Cox's Bazar town.
Fire Service Deputy Assistant Director Syed Muhammad Morshed Hossain stated that all three floors of the resort were made of wood, causing the entire structure to be burned down by the fire. Two units from the Ukhia fire station worked to bring the fire under control.
Six injured, five hospitalized
The six individuals injured in the fire are Dr. Shihab Uddin (31), a doctor at Mugda Medical College Hospital; his wife Nafiza Newaz Khan (29); Mannan (34); Meherunnesa (30); Masud (30); and Samida (32). It is not yet known whether any of them are among the deceased.
The injured were initially taken to the Ukhia Upazila Health Complex and were later transferred to the Cox's Bazar District Sadar Hospital.
The hospital's Resident Medical Officer, Sabuktagin Mahmud Sohel, stated that five of the injured suffered burns, with approximately 5 percent of their bodies burned, and they have been admitted to the hospital. Another person was injured from a fall and was released after receiving first aid.
Tourists staying at the resort
According to published information, about 30 people were staying at the resort at the time of the fire. Among them, four to five people managed to escape, but immediate definitive information regarding the whereabouts of the others was not available.
According to Fire Service information, upon receiving news of the fire at 7:25 AM, two units of the Ukhia Fire Service headed to the scene. They arrived around 8 AM and began working to control the fire, which was reported to be brought under control at 8:15 AM.
