Eye witnesses at the factory said in interviews the fire was believed to have started around 2pm in the match factory as the workers were discharging their duties.
An electrician at the factory, Luka Mtimawina, said the workers did not see what caused the fire.
“I was busy repairing a machine in the factory when I noticed the chain where the matches moves around was on fire. It did not take long for the fire to spread to other areas. We switched off all electricity panels and tried to extinguish it with fire extinguishers but it was too strong. We also called the fire brigade to help us extinguish it,” he said.
When The Nation crew arrived at the scene, factory workers were seen running around trying to rescue some of the goods in the factory. There were no casualties reported. as of yesterday.
The fire engine from Blantyre City Council arrived at the scene 30 minutes after the fire started.
OG Issa officials at the scene refused to comment on the incident.
People from around the factory flooded the place to collect free matched. Police had to come in and dispersed the crowd with teargas.
The incident comes just weeks after Nico House in Blantyre went up in flames.
OG Issa Group of Companies manufactures PVC pipes and fittings, household and moulded furniture, woven sacks, plastics and polythene bags as well as plastic water tanks.
