Six Bangladeshi nationals were killed and another injured after a devastating fire broke out at a shop in Queenstown in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province early Tuesday.

The injured person was admitted to a hospital for treatment.

The fire erupted at around 3am local time while the victims were reportedly sleeping inside the shop.

Local police and fire service personnel recovered the bodies after completing rescue operations.

Authorities have yet to officially disclose the identities of the six deceased as the incident remains under investigation.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Police and the fire service have launched an investigation to establish how the blaze started.

Members of the local Bangladeshi community are assisting the authorities in identifying the victims and coordinating necessary support.

According to preliminary information, the six deceased were residents of different unions under Narayanganj Sadar upazila.