More than 500 shanties have been destroyed after a fire tore into parts of the Rohingya refugee camp in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar.

Besides, at least 15 people were injured in the fire that broke out at Block-E of the camp in Nayapara area of Teknaf on early Thursday morning. 

On information, members of Bangladesh Army, APBn, police and Fire Service rushed to the spot and doused the blaze.  

Later, Cox's Bazar Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Shah Rezwan Hayat visited the destroyed shanties in the camp. 

Locals said the fire erupted inside one of the shanties and then quickly spread as most occupants use gas cylinders for cooking. 

Teknaf Fire Service team leader Mukul Kumar Nath told Banglanews that the cause and origin of the fire could not be known yet. 

"There were about eight families living inside one tin-shed house. As many as 514 houses, including 48 tin-shed houses and 130 shanties, have been gutted in the fire," he said.           

Cox's Bazar Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission Additional Commissioner Shamsuddouza Nayon told Banglanews that the affected families were temporarily sheltered to learning centers. They will be transferred to other camps later.

BDST: 1410 HRS, JAN 14, 2021
AP/SMS