Three resorts ravaged by fire on St Martin's Island

Property worth Tk 40m charred

OUR CORRESPONDENT | Published: January 15, 2025 21:46:44

COX'S BAZAR, Jan 15: A devastating fire ripped through three resorts on Saint Martin's Island in the early hours of Wednesday burning to ashes properties worth around Tk40 million.
Source said at around 3am, the fire first broke out at Sayari Resort on St Martin's Island and then spread to two other adjoining resorts Galachipa Beach Valley and Kingshuk Resort- causing damage in the majority of the latter two.
Saint Martin Union Parishad Chairman Mujibur Rahman confirmed the fire incident.
Quoting eyewitnesses and resort owners, the chairman said that the fire ensued at midnight due to a short circuit in a multiplug in the reception room of Sayari Eco Resort in Galachipa on the west beach of St Martin. Just behind is Beach Valley Eco Resort. Due to the wind, the canopy of Beach Valley, which is made of dry wood and bamboo, caught fire within minutes and the blaze spread to the entire resort within a few minutes.
Within a short time, flames stated spilling into the reception rooms of nearby Kingshuk Eco Resort.
The fire was brought under control around 4am with the efforts of local residents of St Martin's Island, visiting tourists and members of the law enforcement agencies.
Tourists staying at the resorts said that there were no casualties as most of the tourists were outside the resort when the fire broke out.
However, their belongings were burnt to ashes and they had to spend a sleepless night. As there was no alternative fire control system in the cottages, all the rooms were burnt to ashes.
Island residents said that the fire spread quickly because everything was dry in winter.
The resorts were burnt to ashes within minutes. Coast Guard, Navy, Tourist Police and BGB members brought the fire under control with the help of locals.
Local resident Abdul Malek said that traders are in great danger on the island for various reasons. On top of that, the fire incident is very sad. The government should stand by the affected traders.
Sarwar Alam, owner of Kingshuk Eco Resort, said, "I have come to St. Martin's Island after a long time with my wife and son. The dream institution that I built bit by bit has been burnt down in front of my young children. Everything I had ended in an instant."
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin said, "Our team has reached there. They will investigate the fire incident. And discussions are underway with the authorities on how to help the affected people."
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