Bangladesh resort fire kills 10 near Cox’s Bazar

A fire tore through Tuptup Resto and Resort near Inani Beach in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district on Saturday, killing 10 people and injuring four, according to the local Fire Service and Civil Defense. The blaze began in the morning and spread rapidly through the three-storey wooden building. Children were among those killed, an official told the Associated Press, without giving further details.

The resort was operating without a valid fire-safety licence, fire service officials told Reuters. Authorities have formed a five-member committee to establish the cause and examine possible failures in oversight. The cause was not clear in the initial official accounts, so speculation about how the fire started should not be treated as established.

Inani, near the Bay of Bengal, is part of the Cox’s Bazar tourist area and is popular with domestic visitors. The immediate investigation must determine whether alarms, exits and other protections were present and functioning, and why the property was allowed to receive guests without current approval. The confirmed toll is an early account and may be revised as officials identify victims and complete their inspection.