C T Online Desk: A devastating fire swept through Rohingya Camp-16 in Ukhiya upazila early Tuesday, destroying several hundred shelters along with multiple educational and religious institutions.
According to Fire Service sources, the blaze is believed to have originated from an unattended gas stove used to heat water around 4am in Camp-16, located in the Shafullah Kata area.
Ukhiya Fire Service Station Officer Dollar Tripura said Fire Service and Civil Defence units from Ukhiya rushed to the scene and, with the assistance of Rohingya volunteers, brought the fire under control after nearly one and a half hours. The blaze was fully extinguished by approximately 5:30am.
Mohammad Riaz, head of Block D at Camp-16, said at least 448 shelters were completely destroyed. In addition, two mosques, 10 schools and one madrasa were gutted in the fire, leaving several thousand Rohingya refugees homeless. No casualties were reported.
Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rifat Asma stated that preparations are underway to compile a list of affected families and assess the extent of the damage.
