Cox’s Bazar:
 
At least seven people were killed in a devastating fire that broke out at TupTup Resto & Resort in Inani of Ukhiya in Cox’s Bazar on Saturday morning.
 
The Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters confirmed the deaths.
 
Five people are still believed to be missing. Rescue workers are searching the debris to determine whether anyone else remains trapped underneath. Authorities fear the number of casualties could rise.
 
Meanwhile, members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have joined the Fire Service in assisting with the rescue operation.
 
The fire broke out around 7am at the resort near Patuartek Beach along Marine Drive. The blaze was fully extinguished around 11am.
 
Identities of the deceased and missing could not be immediately confirmed.
 
Three firefighting units began operations around 8am and brought the blaze under control by approximately 10am.
 
Rimon Ghosh, in-charge of the Inani Police Outpost, told TIMES that police rushed to the scene after receiving reports of the fire and joined the Fire Service in the rescue operation.
 
He said, “So far, seven people have died in the fire. It has not yet been confirmed whether anyone else is missing. More details will be available once the rescue operation is completed.”
 
Earlier, Dolon Acharje, a senior Fire Service official who was at the scene in the morning, said that five bodies had been recovered from inside the resort. All the deceased were initially believed to be tourists, but their identities had not been confirmed.
 
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
 
Meanwhile, the resort’s management and staff reportedly left the scene.