1200 shanties gutted in Ukhiya rohingya camp fire

Staff Correspondent

Cox's Bazar and Teknaf

At least 1200 shanties were gutted as a massive fire broke out at Rohingya camp-16 in Ukhiya upazila of Cox's Bazar on Sunday afternoon.

Fire service, law enforcers and volunteers brought the fire under control after two hours.

No casualties were immediately reported and the extent of damage could not be ascertained as of 8:00pm.

At least 30,000 people, who have become homeless due to the fire, are being shifted elsewhere.

Assistant police superintendent of Armed Police Battalion (ApBN), Kamran Hossain said the fire ensued from a gas chimney of residence of some Mohammad Ali of B/1 block of the camp.

He said the fire had broken out at 4:50 pm and quickly engulfed the adjoining areas.

Taj Uddin, Ukhiya upazila assistant commissioner (land), said a total of 10 houses of the local host community were also gutted in the fire.

The district administration has provided food and warm clothes to the affected people, he said adding the homeless people would be shifted elsewhere within the night.