Woman, two children die in Bunda Hill fire
A woman and her two children were burnt to death on Thursday when they were trapped by a raging fire on top of Bunda Hill in Lilongwe, where they went for prayers conducted by members of a pentecostal church.
Witnesses near the hill said yesterday the incident occurred around midday near Chilowa Village in Lilongwe Rural after traditional leaders had declared the hill a no-go area at that time.
The witnesses said the leaders had given a prior warning that they would burn the bush around the hill as per their annual routine of ‘cleansing’ the community.
Lilongwe Police Station spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula confirmed the incident and said he was in a team of police officers who went to the Bunda Hill area for investigations and to contain any public disorder.
He said: “Information on the incident is still sketchy, but I can confirm that a woman, Martha Gift, and two of her children died when the fire overcame them as they were trying to escape from the mountain top where they had gone for prayers in a group totalling 15. They comprised seven men, five women and three children.”
Dandaula said the bodies were taken to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe Thursday afternoon.
He said police will establish what really happened after meeting the traditional leaders and some members who had gone to the mountain-top prayers.
Bunda Hill is a popular prayer spot for many born-again Christians who travel over 30 kilometres from as far Lilongwe City to seek God in prayer and fasting, spurred on by the serene atmosphere that is removed from the hustle and bustle of the city.
