Three houses were destroyed in a fire in Pekua upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday night, leaving four families without shelter and destroying their furniture, clothes, essential belongings, cash and savings.
The fire broke out at around 11:00pm on October 21 in the Moiyadia area of Ward 2 under Pekua municipality.
The affected families are Abul Bashar, Abul Kashem, Abu Taher, and Abu Taleb.
According to local sources, the fire started when a kerosene lamp inside Abu Taher’s house accidentally fell to the floor, setting fire to plastic sheeting spread across it. The flames quickly spread to neighbouring houses.
Residents tried to extinguish the fire but failed, then alerted the Pekua Fire Service and Civil Defense. A firefighting team attempted to reach the scene, but the lack of a road suitable for fire engines prevented it from arriving in time. The flames spread rapidly, destroying three houses.
The fire left all four families facing significant financial losses after it destroyed their homes and belongings, including furniture, clothes, essential items, cash, and long-term savings.
Members of the affected families said they had lost almost everything and were now without a roof over their heads. They said recovering from the disaster would be difficult without urgent assistance from government and non-government organisations.
Pekua Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mohammad Anisul Islam visited the affected area and spoke with the families about their losses. He assured them that financial assistance would be provided through government initiatives.
Residents called on the administration and affluent community members to provide urgent assistance, including food, clothing, temporary shelter, and financial support, to help families recover from the disaster.
Pekua Correspondent
