Zomba, February 5: Goods worth millions of kwachas have been destroyed following fire which gutted a Chinese shop during early hours of Wednesday in Zomba.
According to Eastern Region Police Spokesperson Inspector Thomeck Nyaude, the Police received reports that Yua Yue shop has been gutted down into ashes by fire which started around 1.00 am.
Inspector Nyaude said Police is still investigating and working hand in hand with ESCOM to establish what caused the accident.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency, the security guard at the shop Emmanuel Sitima said he noticed this accident after realized that there was smoke inside the shop and he rushed to report to the Zomba City Council Fire Fighter section.
One of the eye witnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity said the fire extended the whole shop quickly because of what he believed to be inflammable substances which was kept inside the shop.
He said by the time the watchman went to report to Fire Brigades, there was some explosion inside the shop which he suspected to be petro inside the gen set which was being used during black outs.
Zomba City Council Head of Fire Services Loadias Sendaluzi confirmed the incident and fire fighters rushed to the scene immediately after the office received the reports.
He said the moment the fire officers arrived at the scene, the fire was completely scattered the shop due to explosion which occurred before they arrived.
However, Sendaluzi said it took time for the shop owner to come and give access to fire fighters since the shop was locked and protected with big burglar bars and it was difficult to ease the situation.
He also said it was difficult to establish the cost of goods lost during the accident since it was difficult to communicate with the shop owner because he does not manage to speak English.
