14/07/2025
Petrol explosion claims two lives, leaves one severely burned in Mangochi
A 45-year-old woman and her 13-year-old son have died, while her 20-year-old daughter, Aisha Mussah, sustained severe burns following a fire caused by a petrol explosion that gutted their house on the night of July 13, 2025.
The deceased have been identified as Jika Willard and Sherif Mussah, both from Chiwina Village under Traditional Authority Jalasi in Mangochi.
Reports indicate that the elder son of the deceased, a well-known illegal fuel vendor operating in the Namwera area, had been storing petrol at his parents’ rented house with their consent, despite living elsewhere.
On the night of the incident, the three family members brought a charcoal burner into the house to warm themselves due to cold weather. Unfortunately, the burner was placed too close to the stored fuel, igniting a violent explosion. The resulting fire quickly engulfed the house.
Jika and her son were trapped inside and suffered fatal burns. Their bodies were later recovered, completely burned, with some parts reduced to ashes.
Aisha managed to escape and was rushed to Namwera Rural Hospital, where she was later referred to Mangochi District Hospital for further medical treatment after sustaining burns to both her legs and arms.
The incident was reported to police, who rushed to the scene accompanied by medical personnel. The team confirmed the deaths and retrieved the remains of the victims from the burnt house.
Police in the district have since issued a strong warning to the public to stop illegal fuel vending, emphasizing that such dangerous practices can lead to tragic loss of life and pose serious risks to community safety.
(Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi, Public Relations Officer, Mangochi Police Station)
