Malawi: Fire accident which was caused due to Patrol explosion has claimed the life of a 33-year-old man and his 18-year-old nephew in Mangochi district. The wife of the 33 year old deceased man has sustained severe burns and the accident also destroyed their home.
The accident happened in the Mangochi District and was immediately reported to the police.
The Mangochi Police Station Public Relations Officer, Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi confirmed the development. She also identified the deceased 33 yar old victim as Yusuf Samson and 18 year old man as Ziyaka John.
According to the PR officer, both the deceased victims were residents of the Matungwi Village in the Traditional Authority (T/A) Jalasi in Mangochi. According to Daudi, Samson, the deceased was a well-known petroleum vendor operating at Idrusi Trading Centre in the district.
“During the evening of September 8, 2024, Samson brought jerry cans of petrol into his compound as usual. However, one jerry was leaking and he decided to transfer the fuel into another jerry can which was inside the house with the help of his nephew, while his wife was cooking in one of the rooms using a charcoal burner,” she added.
Daudi said in the process, the fuel ignited, causing a fire that quickly spread throughout the house, adding that Samson and his wife managed to escape and were rushed to Mangochi District Hospital, where Samson died the following day while receiving treatment.
She added that his nephew, who was trapped in the inferno, suffered severe burns and was found completely burned the next morning.
“Samsons wife, who sustained severe burns is currently receiving treatment at Mangochi District Hospital,” she added.
Meanwhile, police in the district have urged the public to stop illegal fuel vending for house safety and security. The accident is one of many proofs how keeping flammable fuels and substances can lead to unfortunate accidents
“We urge everyone to exercise caution and follow safety guidelines when handling fuel to avoid such devastating consequences,” said Daudi.