Six of the 10 people reported killed in a fire at TupTup Resort on Marine Drive in Cox’s Bazar have been identified, while six others were injured in the incident.
The fire broke out on Saturday morning, October 17. Authorities have warned that the death toll could rise.
The six identified victims are Israt Jahan Maliha, 30, and Milita Mehejabin Alvi, 23, from the capital’s Banasree area; Laila Jahan Nabila, 27, and Nafista Mim, 27, from Khilgaon; and Fariha Kabir, 33, and Faizan Ahmed, 5, from Chuadanga.
The injured are physician Shihab Uddin, 31; his wife, Nafiza Newaz Khan, 29; Mannan, 34; Meherunnessa, 30; Masud, 30; and Samida, 32.
Five of the injured suffered burns covering approximately 5% of their bodies. The sixth was injured in a fall and was discharged after receiving first aid.
Mahmud Sohel, resident medical officer (RMO) at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, confirmed the information.
Police said the wooden resort had nine rooms. Tourists staying in three rooms checked out on Friday night, October 16, while 16 tourists were staying in the remaining six rooms. Some of them were outside the resort on Saturday morning.
An electrical short circuit is suspected to have triggered the fire, according to preliminary information.
Md Suman, the resort’s in-charge, told Star News that the fire started following a short circuit. Staff tried to extinguish it immediately, but the resort’s air-conditioning units and cylinders subsequently exploded, causing the fire to spread throughout the property, he said.
