Panic gripped residents and hospitality workers in the coastal tourist hub of Inani on Tuesday morning after flames and natural gas violently spewed from an underground drilling site.

The incident unfolded at approximately 8:30 am near the Bay Watch Hotel, situated by the small bridge in the Inani area under Ukhiya Upazila of Cox’s Bazar. Local technicians were in the middle of boring into the earth to install a fresh-water tube well when high-pressure gas suddenly breached the surface. Within moments, the escaping gas ignited into a fierce, continuous jet of fire, emitting dense, foul-smelling smoke across the immediate vicinity.

Three firefighting units from the Ukhiya Fire Service station were dispatched immediately to the scene. Emergency crews launched efforts to secure the perimeter and contain the blaze, though gas and flames continued to erupt relentlessly from the borehole well into the day.

Ukhiya Fire Service Station Officer Saidul Islam confirmed the ongoing emergency operations, explaining that subterranean gas reserves appear to have triggered the sudden blowout. He noted that while firefighters are working to prevent the flames from spreading, the sheer force of the escaping gas makes extinguishing the core flame a complex task until expert assessment is complete.

The proximity of the towering flames to high-voltage overhead power cables prompted swift precautionary interventions from local energy authorities. Ukhiya Palli Bidyut Samiti took the decision to shut down power distribution along a 15-kilometre stretch of its 33 kV transmission line, spanning from Monkhali to Patuartek, safeguarding nearby establishments and prevention against secondary electrical fires.

The event triggered widespread anxiety among local villagers and staff at surrounding tourist accommodations. Alamin, a young hospitality worker employed at an adjacent five-star hotel, recalled the alarming moment the drill hit the gas pocket, sharing that the sudden subterranean eruption occurred right next to the living quarters where he and his colleagues reside.

Subterranean natural gas pockets are occasionally encountered during deep groundwater extraction along the coastal belt of south-eastern Bangladesh. As emergency personnel maintain a strict cordon around the hazard zone, technical authorities are expected to analyze the pressure levels and composition of the gas source to determine the safest method to cap the shaft.