Fire that ravaged Ukhiya Rohingya camp tamed

A fire that broke out at Balukhali Rohingya Camp-11 under Palongkhali union of Ukhiya upazila in the district on Sunday afternoon has been brought under control after three hours.

Over 2,000 shelters were destroyed or damaged in the fire that displaced 12,000 refugees. The camp was home to 32,200 people.

Shockingly, more than 90 facilities were damaged including hospitals and learning centres.

The fire originated at camp-11 around 3 pm today and soon engulfed the adjacent camps number-9 and 10 there, said APBn Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Farooq Ahmed.

Sheikh Mohammad Ali, officer-in-charge of Ukhiya Police Station, said, being informed, a total of 10 units of firefighters rushed to the spot and managed to douse the blaze after around three hours of tireless efforts with the help of Army, Armed Police Battalion and Ukhia Thana Police.

The origin of the fire and the extent of loss were not known immediately, he added.

However, no casualty has been reported till the filing of the report, he said.

Many houses and several shops were gutted, said Shafiq Ullah, a resident of Balukhali Rohingya camp in Ukhiya.

Detail information will be known after proper investigation, police sources said.