Massive Fire in St. Martin's at Midnight, 3 Resorts Destroyed

A devastating fire broke out around 2:30 AM on Tuesday (January 14) in the Galachipa area of St. Martin’s Island, completely destroying three popular resorts: Shairi, Beach Valley, and Kingshuk.

Mujibur Rahman, Chairman of St. Martin's Union Parishad, confirmed the incident, adding that no tourists or local residents were injured in the blaze.

However, the fire caused significant damage, as the island lacks advanced firefighting equipment, which hindered a swift response.

Resident Nur described how the fire started at Beach Valley Resort on the western shore and quickly spread to the other resorts. "The fire spread rapidly, and within moments, Shairi, Beach Valley, and Kingshuk were engulfed in flames," he said.

Initially, locals attempted to douse the flames, but it was only after an hour and a half of efforts from the Coast Guard, Navy, and Tourist Police that the fire was brought under control.

The cause of the fire is believed to be linked to the burning of waste at a neighboring resort. According to Nur, the owner of Kingshuk Resort reported that the burning waste on the nearby sand dunes likely sparked the fire.

Another local resident, Jamir, highlighted the lack of a fire station on the island, which made firefighting efforts even more challenging. He praised the combined efforts of the local community, Coast Guard, Navy, and Tourist Police, who worked tirelessly to control the fire by 4 AM.