Cox's Bazar Resort Fire: Beachfront Hotel Blaze Kills 10 Tourists, Injures Nine, Guests Flee

Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh— A fire tore through a beachfront resort in Cox's Bazar on October 20, killing 10 tourists and injuring nine others as guests scrambled to escape thick smoke and flames.

The blaze started shortly after 2 a.m. on the second floor. Guests were asleep. The hotel, a four-story building near Kolatoli Beach, had no central alarm system, survivors said. People woke to shouts. Some smelled smoke. Others saw flames in the hallway.

Fire service officials said the fire spread through wooden interiors and air-conditioning ducts. The resort had a single narrow staircase. That staircase became a chimney. "People were trapped on the top floors," a fire officer said. "The smoke was too dense. They could not come down." Ladders were used to pull guests from balconies.

Ten bodies were recovered from the second and third floors. Most died from smoke inhalation. Nine others were taken to Cox's Bazar District Hospital with burns and respiratory injuries. Doctors said three are in critical condition. The victims included domestic tourists from Dhaka and Chittagong and at least two foreign nationals, according to police.

Guests described chaos. Power went out. Emergency lights did not turn on. One survivor said he broke a window with a chair to breathe. Another said the fire extinguisher on his floor was empty. "We were banging on doors," he said. "No staff came." The hotel manager could not be reached by phone Tuesday morning.

Cox's Bazar is Bangladesh's biggest tourist hub. Hundreds of small resorts have been built quickly along the beach in recent years to meet demand. Fire officials have repeatedly warned about safety violations. Many buildings lack fire exits, sprinklers, and proper wiring. Inspections are rare.

The district administration said a five-member committee will investigate the cause. Preliminary assessment points to an electrical short circuit in a guest room. Police said they have sealed the building and detained two staff members for questioning. The resort's license and fire clearance are under review.

Tourism operators in the area closed their properties for the day. Crowds gathered outside the hospital. Families arrived from nearby towns after hearing news on local television. The smell of burned plastic still hung over the block.

The fire was fully extinguished by 6 a.m. What remains is a blackened shell. Rooms on the upper floors are gutted. Investigators are still inside, photographing charred wiring and melted fixtures. No compensation has been announced.