A TWO-year-nine months old boy from Chikankata district, Southern Province has lost his life in a fire incident that occurred yesterday.
The accident occurred when the child and his two year old female cousin were playing with fire in a parked car.
According to police reports, the two siblings, aged two and four, were unsupervised at their home when they decided to ignite a fire within a white Toyota Corolla.
The car’s doors were subsequently closed, trapping the children inside.
As flames spread, the children became trapped and began to cry for help. Neighbours and family members who heard their cries rushed to the scene and managed to rescue the children.
However, both siblings had already sustained severe burns while the vehicle was reduced to ashes.
The children were immediately taken to Chikankata Mission Hospital, but the older child’s condition was deemed critical and required urgent transfer to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
Sadly, he succumbed to injuries this morning.
Southern Province Police Commanding Officer, Auxensio Daka, confirmed the incident and expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss.
“Today, police received a report from Coster Gondwe, 34 that his nephew, Blessed Chilima who was rushed to University Teaching Hospital after a fire incident had died and the body is deposited at the hospital mortuary awaiting for postmortem,” said Daka.
Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.
By Buumba Mwitumwa
Kalemba October 2, 2023
