Police Officer Dies in House Fire in Nsanje

NSANJE, Malawi - Detective Senior Superintendent Michael Phiri, a 49-year-old police officer, died in his home after it caught fire on Saturday night in Nsanje district, writes Cornelius Lupenga.

This marks the second fire accident in Nsanje in a span of three months; earlier this year, a fire gutted the house of an Assistant Forestry Officer, resulting in a fatality.

Confirming the tragic incident, Nsanje Police Station Officer-In-Charge, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dr. Joseph Mutupha, stated that several people rushed to Phiri's house to try and extinguish the fire, but their efforts were in vain.

"Nobody could tell if there was anyone inside the house at the time of the incident," said ACP Mutupha.

"On Sunday morning, a search for the body was carried out, and it was found burned into ashes."

The cause of the fire and the value of the properties damaged are yet to be established and are currently under investigation.

The deceased, Detective Senior Superintendent Michael Phiri, hailed from Luunda village in the area of Traditional Authority Jalasi in Mangochi.

The Nsanje district has seen a tragic increase in fire accidents in recent months, with two incidents resulting in the loss of life.

Authorities are urging residents to take precautions and practice fire safety measures in their homes to prevent further tragedies.